You might be unemployed or eager for a change. However, there’s more to job hunting than just being keen to work. You might stand a chance of being fully prepared and organized by taking some of the following steps:
Request a Background or Criminal Record Check
When you plan to work in Canada, future potential employers will likely request an RCMP criminal record check. If you work in America, you can expect the same process. If you’re unsure what they’ll find, be one step ahead by requesting your own records in advance.
When you find out what’s in your background and whether it could impact your employment opportunities, you can plan how you’ll approach this sensitive topic in interviews. You can even rehearse your explanation to appear calm, confident, and collected.
Get Professional Resume Help
If it has been several years since you needed to use a cover letter and resume, don’t be afraid to seek professional help. A cover letter and resume can sometimes be the difference between getting an interview and being discarded to the bottom of the pile.
A number of online resume providers can digitally design professional-looking resumes with the information you provide. Alternatively, you might like to create a resume yourself. If you plan to design one yourself, ensure it has all the necessary information prospective employers need, such as:
- Your name
- Date of birth
- Contact information
- Professional references
- Education
- Qualifications
- Skills
Register On Job Seeker Websites
While you might have some luck looking for jobs on your local notice boards, some of the best opportunities are generally advertised on job seeker websites. Create accounts on multiple platforms and filter jobs by your preferences and qualifications. You can also request to be notified if any jobs that suit your needs are newly listed. The more platforms you’re a member of, the more jobs you might become aware of. It might then only be a matter of time before you receive an interview request for your dream job.
Go Shopping
Preparing to start your job-hunting journey can be an excellent excuse to go shopping for new clothes. If you have a dedicated outfit for job interviews, you don’t have to worry about embarking on a last-minute shopping trip when you receive an interview request.
What you wear to a job interview can depend on the type of workplace it is. Tidy jeans, well-fitting work trousers, knee-length skirts, and closed-toed shoes are typically always recommended. A suit might also be suitable if you plan to work in an office environment.
Research Interview Questions
You might not yet have a job interview to plan for, but that doesn’t mean you can’t research interview questions. The more prepared you are, the more confident you might feel when that time comes. Many HR departments ask common questions that you can find on the internet. Research what these are so you can plan your responses. Among the most common are:
- Can you tell us about yourself?
- What is your experience with this type of work?
- Why do you want to work for our company?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- What makes you the best person for this job?
It also doesn’t hurt to prepare general questions you might like to ask a hiring manager or prospective new employer if given the opportunity. While you can prepare these in advance, you might have more specific questions in mind when you’re invited into an interview. Some of the best questions to ask include:
- What would you want to see me accomplish in the first three months of employment?
- How do you measure my success?
- What are the most important parts of this position?
- Is there room for growth in this position?
- Are there learning and development opportunities in this position?
Research the Company
You might not be able to research a company until a job interview is scheduled but don’t neglect this step when that time comes. A hiring manager or employer may ask what you know about their company and what you like about it. Having some answers in mind might put you ahead of your possible competition.
Most companies have websites you can check to get the information you need. At a minimum, you should know what the company does, who’s in charge, and their business goals. If you can’t find a website or it lacks detail, talk to people in your local community to find out as much as possible.
Being fully prepared for job-hunting doesn’t happen overnight. It can be a days- or weeks-long process with multiple steps. However, the more of the above actions you take before an interview, the more confident and calm you might be when you schedule your very first in-person visit.