Top Tips for Applying for Jobs

This month, I will be doing a series on jobs. Just recently, I celebrated my one year workiversary so it was only fitting for me to discuss jobs for this month. Yes, I have been an official work adult for an entire year. It’s hard in these working streets and I know how stressful and frustrating it is to apply for jobs.

The first blog post in my job series is going to be all about what to do before you get the job. Trust me, I know that applying for jobs can be a nightmare and it can be very discouraging when you do not get an opportunity that you were hoping to get. I hope you find these tips useful in some way during your job hunt.

Update your resume’ and cover letter

Get someone to proofread your resume for you. In university, there were career centers where career experts would check my resume’ and ensure that it fit the job that I was applying for, eg. using key words to describe what I did that highlight the things that the company stated that it wanted in its workers. Do not send a 3 page long resume’ and think people are actually going to sit down and read that. Tailor the resume’ to the company/field you are applying to.

In your cover letter, ensure that you are referring to the right company. Tailor your skills and accomplishments to show how you would be an excellent match for the company. Do not be generic! While some sentences can fit for different companies, sometimes it’s evident when a resume’ is just recycled.

Prepare for your Interview

Before your interview, take some time out to have a mock interview and answer common interview questions. Look on the company’s website so that you can ensure that you are able to answer questions that the interviewer may pose about the company, eg. What is our slogan? What do we pride ourselves in? What are our three main areas? What are the main services we provide? Also, know why you decided to apply for that job. Is it because you have heard great things about the company, Is it because you admire one of their workers? Is it because you were inspired by all of the young people that they elevate and their work culture? Be prepared for the questions that may come your way. Take time to breathe, relax and gather your thoughts. If you get nervous before the interview, continue to take deep breaths and think positive.

Send follow up emails

Don’t be afraid to follow up on a job you applied to. Some people may say that it’s annoying for people to send follow up emails but I think it shows persistence. Obviously don’t bombard the company with emails every day but 2 weeks after your interview you can say, “It was great speaking with you at the interview last week and getting to learn more about your company and what is expected of me. I love the work environment thus far and I can see myself as a valuable asset to your company. I look forward to hearing from you.” If you do not get a response to your email within a week, don’t be shy to call for an update. I can remember once where I followed up with a call and the company told me that my application had gotten lost in their email and they apologized and offered me the internship. Don’t be scared to reach out. The only thing they can tell you is that you got the job or you didn’t.

Build a Network

In The Bahamas, people say, “It een what ya know, it’s who ya know.” This is a sad reality but it is not always the case. If you are trying to build a network, don’t be afraid to reach out to people. Reach out to people on LinkedIn. This is honestly a scary thing but I can remember messaging people in my field on LinkedIn and they actually responded with tips and advice. I even got a summer job once simply by reaching out to someone on LinkedIn. Attend seminars and workshops and mingle with people after (I know this is more difficult now due to Covid-19). Find out if someone would be willing to be your mentor. I literally met my mentor by reaching out to her on LinkedIn.

Work on You

While you’re waiting for the job, work on you. Try to do things that will help you in the long run. Enroll in a course. Try to improve your skills so that you can be more competitive. If your time and finances will allow it, volunteer to do something in the industry or work along with someone for a collaboration. Work on personal and professional development. Do not waste your time being sad about not getting the job you want. Work on improving yourself to make yourself the great candidate for the job.

What to Remember

Remember who you are. You are God’s child and nothing that’s meant for you will pass you by. What’s for you will be for you and no one can take that away from you. Remember that at the right time God will make it happen. While we would love for things to work on our time, God’s time is the best time. We tend to always want things to go our way but remember that God’s purpose will always prevail. Also, there is a purpose for the season that you are currently in. Don’t give up. Never stop growing and remember that things will work out in the end.

I hope these tips were helpful. Happy Job Hunting!

If you need someone to update your resume’, feel free to reach out to me at scharleejlthompson@gmail.com .

For more tips, stay tuned for Part 2!