Lockdown has had severe effects on global economies and South Africa is no exception. So, unfortunately many people currently find themselves in the job market again, says Fred Razak, chief trading strategist at CM Trading.<\/p>\n
Whatever your reasons may be for seeking out a new employer, selling yourself well can help you get hired sooner, rather than later, he said.<\/p>\n
And it starts a few important touches. Razak shares a few tips improving your chances of finding a job following lockdown.<\/p>\n
1. Get your CV right<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThink of your CV as a brochure that sells you as an exciting new product. When you\u2019re looking to buy something and are doing your research, you don\u2019t want to be overwhelmed with information. You need to know what the product is and what it can do for you \u2013 as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no need to put a header at the top that says \u2018CV\u2019 or \u2018Curriculum Vitae\u2019, because anyone who is looking at the document will know what it is. Start with your name, contact details and job title. You can also include a link to your LinkedIn profile if it\u2019s relevant to the position you\u2019re applying for.<\/p>\n \u201cNext, create a short personal profile \u2013 no more than two-to-three lines. This is your main \u2018sales\u2019 statement to the prospective employer, so be sure to highlight your best professional qualities.<\/p>\n Follow that with your work experience and responsibilities in point form, then your qualifications and finally, references. Don\u2019t include a photograph of yourself on your CV,” said Razak.<\/p>\n 2. Write a great cover letter<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cBefore your future employer has even looked at your CV, they\u2019re going to read the email it\u2019s attached to. So, this is a real opportunity for you to stand out. Depending on the employer, some cover letters can simply be written in the body of the email. In more corporate or formal environments, a letter attached to the email is preferred.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are three things a cover letter should be doing for a prospective employer:<\/p>\n \u201cKeep it as concise as possible and tailor-make every cover letter for each job you apply for. Keeping it personal shows that you have paid attention to what the employer is asking for.”<\/p>\n 3. The all-important interview<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cOnce your professionally crafted CV and brilliantly written cover letter have secured you an interview, it\u2019s time to impress in person. Start by doing thorough research on the company that is interviewing you. Familiarise yourself with their products or services and their culture.<\/p>\n \u201cPractice answers to standard interview questions you\u2019re likely to get and also remember that you are interviewing the employer to an extent. So, prepare your own questions beforehand, for example, \u2018What would my daily responsibilities be?\u2019 and \u2018What is the internal process for that?\u2019.<\/p>\n Being well-informed is the secret ingredient to having a successful interview. And if you have done your research before the interview, you are likely to appear more confident, too.<\/p>\n “Knowledge is the best way to calm those nerves,” said Razak.<\/p>\n 4. Upskill yourself<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThe more you can do, the broader your options are for employment. If you have the benefit of time while you\u2019re looking for a new job, take a moment to think about how you could improve your skills to make yourself more \u2018employable\u2019.<\/p>\n Taking an online course is never a bad idea, he said. And there are quite a few sites that offer courses at no charge.<\/p>\n \u201cThe kind of upskilling you do will obviously depend entirely on what your chosen profession is. Whatever that may be, it never hurts to learn something new \u2013 even if it\u2019s just for personal peace of mind.”<\/p>\n 5. Broaden your horizons<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cYou can do whatever you like for a living. And if it\u2019s taking a while to find a job in the field you have chosen, you could always look at finding alternative means of income or at least broadening your search. You can do this in the real world or online, depending on your skillset.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re in the job market, the most important thing to remember is that rejection does not mean failure. It should be treated as an opportunity to learn and perhaps approach the next application differently,” said Razak.<\/p>\n
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