There are probably a million questions you could ask our panel of recruitment experts but pinning them down to answer them isn’t always possible.
So, while we haven’t been able to throw that many questions at them we thought it would be more useful to get that one nugget of crucial advice from them instead.
Kerri-Ann Hargreaves
Be realistic. Make relevant applications. The job market is very competitive. Be prepared to sell yourself and be confident in your achievements. That said if you do feel you have transferrable skills and there is some relevance to an application outside of the box do press send. In this instance I would suggest following up your application with a call. Each recruiter, business and hiring manager will be different and therefore will take a slightly different approach. Someone’s ‘No’ doesn’t mean you aren’t a ‘Yes’.
Kerri-Ann Hargreaves, Director, H2 Consultancy.
Jeff Berger
Preparation is the key to an efficient job search. Before you start applying for jobs, take some time to sort out your job goals, as these will influence how you position your experience and skills on your resume, in your cover letters, and on LinkedIn. If you’re uncertain whether your resume is properly representing your qualifications, don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are many services available, including TopCV and TopResume, that will provide free, objective, and professional reviews of your resume.
Jeff Berger, CEO and Founder, Talent Inc.
Lysha Holmes
Be honest! Don’t ever wax lyrical to your potential employer or recruiter- be true to what you want and can do and keep everyone updated out of courtesy. Everything else will follow from that and you as a candidate will get a much better experience!
Lysha Holmes, Recruiter of Recruiters, Qui Recruitment.
Paul Wolfe
Be selective about the jobs you apply for. By far the most important thing you can do in your job search is to carefully evaluate each job you’re applying for. When you find a posting you like, ask yourself if it’s a job you’re qualified for and actually want to do.
Paul Wolfe, Indeed Senior Vice President of Global Human Resources.
Rebecca Fraser
Build an online and offline brand and work actively in your network, you need to nurture your network so they can provide more information to you when possible.
Rebecca Fraser, Career Strategist.
Ben Martinez
Do work that you enjoy and you will never have to look for work. The money will come if you enjoy the work.
Ben Martinez, Principal Founder, Ramp Talent.
Jo Cresswell
Play to your strengths and stay true to yourself when job hunting. Create your list of ‘must-haves’ – be that about the job itself, the culture or values of a company, or salary and benefits – and don’t sacrifice these. Compromise on the ‘nice-to-haves’ instead and find a middle ground that works for you and your future employer.
Jo Cresswell, Corporate Communications Manager, Glassdoor.
Darain Faraz
The most important thing is to be yourself. Research from LinkedIn has shown that employees who are their authentic selves at work are more satisfied, enthusiastic and proud, and it’s really important for both you and your prospective employer that you are the right cultural fit for the company.
Darain Faraz, Careers Expert, LinkedIn.
Allan Leung
Not all career opportunities are created equal. Therefore it’s important to take some time for self reflection on factors such as where you are, where you want to head, and what matters to you in your career. From there you can better plan out your search for the next career opportunity.
Allan Leung, Lead Talent Acquisition Advisor, HCSS.
Chris Murdock
Don’t lie.
Chris Murdock is Senior Partner and Co-Founder at IQTalent Partners
