Getting a job can be an arduous task. There's the résumé, the applying, the job interview, & then finally, obtaining a job. It may take several résumé drafts, hundreds of applications, & countless interviews to finally nail a career. Keep trying. It's a rough world out there, but the only person standing in your way is you. You can do it. Try & try & then try again. Take a look at these tips on how to land a job interview & see what you can work on. :]
This is a photo of my very first day as social media director. After applying, I got a call for an interview. I went in a couple days later for the interview & then got a call I landed the job! These tips on how to get a job interview are based on personal experience, the experience of others, research, & common knowledge. I hope you get the career of your dreams. :]
1. Change the verbs on your résumé - Instead of boring words like "helped" or "created," switch the verbs to something more powerful. "Spearheaded" & "maximized" sound superior. Hopefully you already have a résumé. If not, you really need to do that. Reference 185 Powerful Verbs That Will Make Your Resume Awesome for some word inspiration.
2. Research the company - Sending a general email with your résumé won't help you stand out. Do your research on the company. Learn the basics & then some. Yep, that takes time but that could help land you an interview & possibly a job. Who is the CEO? What does the company do? Check out their social media pages to understand their everyday presence. Add some of those details into your initial query.
3. Do a mock interview - Practice your skills answering job-related questions. Take a look at 100 Potential Interview Questions & then create some answers. Have a friend or family member randomly pick questions for a mock interview. Do your best to answer them appropriately. Practicing can alleviate some of the stress & help you appear more put together in emails, phone conversations, & once you head to the real interview.
4. Apply, apply, apply - Cast a wide net. Don't apply to your one dream job & call it a day. Apply to many jobs & then apply to some more. Check multiple websites to view their available job options. Try CareerBuilder, Craigslist, Indeed, Monster, & even browse your own city's job boards.
5. Use your connections - Ask friends or family if they know of any gigs. Post a Facebook status with your qualifications. "Hey friends. I'm looking for a job in the social media, writing, or editing field. Please message me if you know of anything." Sometimes people are aware of things that you never thought of. Doesn't hurt to try.
6. Clean up your social media profiles - Employers will undoubtedly search for your online presence. Make sure your Facebook profile is private. You may want to temporarily make your Instagram & Twitter accounts private as well. If not, delete those crazy party Facebook photos & profanity ridden Tweets. Your would-be boss may see them & choose to interview another applicant instead. Delete, edit, or make your social media profiles private.
7. Follow up - Did you apply to a job last week & never heard anything back? Email your contact once more with a follow up. It shows perseverance & your proactive attitude. Obviously, don't hound them or be obnoxious. Inquire about the status of your application, thank them for their time, & that's it. Just one follow up email will do.
8. Try something new - If you're still having a hard time landing an interview, you should think outside the box. Do something offbeat compared to what you've been doing. Maybe you need to reformat your résumé, search for a job on foot rather than online, or redo your cover letter. Don't give up!
Finding a job is no easy task, but with a little elbow grease & some tips to help you, you can land a job interview in no time. Which of these tricks can you achieve today? Which was the most helpful? What's your #1 piece of advice on how to get a job interview? Please share your experience! :]
This is a photo of my very first day as social media director. After applying, I got a call for an interview. I went in a couple days later for the interview & then got a call I landed the job! These tips on how to get a job interview are based on personal experience, the experience of others, research, & common knowledge. I hope you get the career of your dreams. :]
1. Change the verbs on your résumé - Instead of boring words like "helped" or "created," switch the verbs to something more powerful. "Spearheaded" & "maximized" sound superior. Hopefully you already have a résumé. If not, you really need to do that. Reference 185 Powerful Verbs That Will Make Your Resume Awesome for some word inspiration.
2. Research the company - Sending a general email with your résumé won't help you stand out. Do your research on the company. Learn the basics & then some. Yep, that takes time but that could help land you an interview & possibly a job. Who is the CEO? What does the company do? Check out their social media pages to understand their everyday presence. Add some of those details into your initial query.
3. Do a mock interview - Practice your skills answering job-related questions. Take a look at 100 Potential Interview Questions & then create some answers. Have a friend or family member randomly pick questions for a mock interview. Do your best to answer them appropriately. Practicing can alleviate some of the stress & help you appear more put together in emails, phone conversations, & once you head to the real interview.
4. Apply, apply, apply - Cast a wide net. Don't apply to your one dream job & call it a day. Apply to many jobs & then apply to some more. Check multiple websites to view their available job options. Try CareerBuilder, Craigslist, Indeed, Monster, & even browse your own city's job boards.
5. Use your connections - Ask friends or family if they know of any gigs. Post a Facebook status with your qualifications. "Hey friends. I'm looking for a job in the social media, writing, or editing field. Please message me if you know of anything." Sometimes people are aware of things that you never thought of. Doesn't hurt to try.
6. Clean up your social media profiles - Employers will undoubtedly search for your online presence. Make sure your Facebook profile is private. You may want to temporarily make your Instagram & Twitter accounts private as well. If not, delete those crazy party Facebook photos & profanity ridden Tweets. Your would-be boss may see them & choose to interview another applicant instead. Delete, edit, or make your social media profiles private.
7. Follow up - Did you apply to a job last week & never heard anything back? Email your contact once more with a follow up. It shows perseverance & your proactive attitude. Obviously, don't hound them or be obnoxious. Inquire about the status of your application, thank them for their time, & that's it. Just one follow up email will do.
8. Try something new - If you're still having a hard time landing an interview, you should think outside the box. Do something offbeat compared to what you've been doing. Maybe you need to reformat your résumé, search for a job on foot rather than online, or redo your cover letter. Don't give up!
Finding a job is no easy task, but with a little elbow grease & some tips to help you, you can land a job interview in no time. Which of these tricks can you achieve today? Which was the most helpful? What's your #1 piece of advice on how to get a job interview? Please share your experience! :]
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I love these tips! #4 is especially important. When I was searching for a job in NYC I basically saturated the market with my resume. I applied for everything related to my field, even if I wasn't sure about a particular job and whether or not it was the right fit. If I was called by one of those companies, I used the interview to help practice and, you never know, what appears on paper as a not-sure-fit could be a great opportunity. I took a temp job that I was sure would only be temporary and they hired me full time after one month. Turned out to be the best job ever!
ReplyDeletexo Bre
Awesome job Bre! I applied to so many jobs it was crazy. You have to get your name out there & like you said, the interviews give you more practice! :]
DeleteThese are really great tips! I'll definitely keep these in mind for next time I'm interviewing. Great post, Carmen! Thanks for sharing it with us!
ReplyDeletexo Kiki
https://colormekiki.wordpress.com/
Thanks for reading, Kiki! :]
DeleteSo bookmarking this post right now. All your tips are so helpful, and I find that the first tip is extremely insightful! Words have such a powerful effect on one's perception, and using far more dynamic verbs will definitely work in favour of you!
ReplyDeleteMay x • THE MAYDEN • bloglovin'
I changed the words on my own & it had so much more power! :]
DeleteLove these! I do #3 a lot since it's so easy for me to be nervous. :)
ReplyDelete<3 Trou
The Peculiar Trouth
Know your weakness & work on it. That's fantastic, Trou. :]
DeleteLoving the tips! I will bookmark your post for a job interview in the future. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete-Tatiana
We Shop in Heels
These are totally helpful! I've never been successful in an interview so I'll definitely be taking these tips on board! X
ReplyDeleteBioderma Blogger Event over at-
hailandharmony.blogspot.ie
// BLOGLOVIN
Great tips!! :)
ReplyDeleteGood tips!
ReplyDeletex
StephC
http://sstephcc.blogspot.com/
Helpful tips! I agree, you should definitely cast a wide net and apply to many options!
ReplyDeletewww.jeannechristinemarie.blogspot.com
Really insightful post! Thanks for sharing these tips!
ReplyDeleteJessica | notjessfashion.com
These are great tips. I am currently beginning to apply for jobs and yes it can be tough!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mintnotion.com
Im applying as we speak....ahhh its so crazy! Thanks for the tips.
ReplyDeletehttp://trend-mixblog.com/
Best wishes to you. :]
DeleteI hope you will keep sharing.
ReplyDeleteI haven't had a job before so I find these really helpful for when I apply!
ReplyDeleteSarah | sarahanne14.blogspot.com
These are really great tips to ensure higher success rate for a job interview, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletePrudence
www.prudencepetitestyle.com
I've found that a killer cover letter is so important! It's an opportunity to highlight why you want the job and why you think your a good fit. So many people don't put enough personality and thought into their cover letter. Pitch yourself and showcase your personality! Make sure it's free of spelling errors and grammatically perfect. Talk about your experiences. Talk about what you want to contribute to the company!
ReplyDeleteDanielle | D is for Dreamer
Absolutely! Personality is imperative in a cover letter to set you apart. :]
DeleteLove your tips. I always try to be myself at a job interview & if they don't like/want me than it wasn't the right company for me. It's always important to fit into the company. So be yourself & be honest (:
ReplyDeleteNati xx
www.simplyartdicted.com
That's very true. If you're excited about your job, you'll do better. Make sure it's a good fit. :]
DeleteGreat tips!
ReplyDeletehttp://fridaynightstyle.com/
Perfect list of tips! I especially find #5 most useful…people always like to hire those who have been personally referred. That always works for me. It is so surprising how many people will contact you when they find out you are looking for a new position!! xo
ReplyDelete(='.'=)
-Lauren
adorn la femme
Definitely Lauren. It's always good to know someone; it can help find avenues you never knew. :]
DeleteThese are all excellent tips, especially #6, most people don't remember that potential employers do check you out online! :o
ReplyDeleteWhich is hilarious since it's the easiest way to really get a sense of who the person is. :]
DeleteThese are all really great tips! I'll have to keep them in mind the next time I apply for a job.
ReplyDeletenolongergrey.com
These are all really good tips! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeletexoxo Emily
http://www.ditchtheheels.com
Such a great post! You have really good tips here and I think the second one about researching the company is really important. I have a friend who couldn't answer an interview question about the history of the company and safe to say she didn't get that job. Hope you have a great day! xx
ReplyDeletewww.tongue-in-chic.com
It just shows you take time to go the extra mile. If you're proven lazy in the interview, why would they hire you? :]
Deletegreat post
ReplyDeletehttp://carrieslifestyle.wordpress.com
Posts online about Hawaii, Dubai, Vienna...
I like the one about doing something different because most of us tend to stay within what we know best. Changing it up a bit can make a difference! Love the tips.
ReplyDeletexx,
Tania
http://inspiremyfancy.blogspot.com/
Sometimes you just need to switch it up. Try a different method. :]
DeleteI found out first hand how important having a well-written powerful resume with an attractive lay-out is! Once I changed my boring old resume into something more contemporary and hip I suddenly landed a lot more interviews.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. More employers are leaning in that direction. Not everything is corporate. :]
DeleteThese are such a good tips! I graduate from uni next year and will have to start looking for a job, so I'll have to bear everything you've said in mind :) xx
ReplyDeleteToasty
Start working on a résumé now. :]
DeleteLoved it! I think my fav is #6. Wish you a lovely day, Carmen. And, by the way, thanks for visiting my blog. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading! :]
DeleteIm not going to be applying for jobs till a couple of years but IM ALREADY NERVOUS!! Thanks for the advice
ReplyDeleteBCfactor Blog
great tips! thanks for sharing, i will definitely keep these in mind when im preparing for my next interview! xo
ReplyDeleteAndrea
www.phdfashionista.com
Great tips!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dianavilic.com/
Great tips! I find that including results oriented resume bullets are key.
ReplyDeletexx Yasmin
http://banglesandbungalows.com
Great tips! I think following up is so important too, you never know what could come of it :)
ReplyDeleteSophie | www.dreamsandcolourschemes.com
I've got an interview coming up, so these tips were really helpful for me! Thanks for sharing x
ReplyDeleteemily x ❤ | emilyloula
I recently quit my job to travel for 5 months and I am so happy I did...but then again, finding a job again when I get home is not that appealing, so thank you for the tips :)
ReplyDeleteChelsea
Ginger Side of Life
There are really good suggestions. The resume is super important so making the most of that will help you make a good impression!
ReplyDeleteHeba xx ||
http://www.californiaroadtrippin.blogspot.com
#5 is definitely a good tip. I read that 50% of jobs aren't advertised at all.
ReplyDeleteErin | Being Erin
This post is very useful for us. Because we have a lot of
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