How to make a great first impression and land your dream job
Laura Hannigan - Marketing & PR Assistant
Over the past year and a half, I have attended over 20 of our careers fairs, in that time I have witnessed some fascinating sights; from the weird and wonderful, to the truly inspiring - all from people searching for a job. Now I’d like to share some of the knowledge I’ve picked up and give you a brief guide to help you land the job of your dreams.
Tip 1 - First impressions are everything! First impressions play a key part in how you are perceived by others and you could have all the experience in the world, but if you turned up to an interview in tracksuit bottoms and Ugg boots, nobody is going to take you seriously. It’s exactly the same at JobServe Live! You’re essentially looking to sell yourself to potential employers, by making sure you are dressed smartly and your hair is neat and tidy you will make a much better first impression and potential employers will be impressed by the effort you’ve put in.
Tip 2 – CV Success. Make sure your CV is up to date and relevant to the job you are applying for. Don’t fill it with useless information just to take up space, this only bores people and they are likely to just discard it. Do include any work experience or voluntary work you’ve done, even if it’s just a day or two, this will show employers you’re a hard worker and a well rounded person. Also make sure you bring plenty of copies of your CV along, the more people you hand it out to, the more likely you are to get a response.
Tip 3 – Research, research, research. Look up the companies you’re interested in, the more information you can give them about their business the better. It may take a bit of time but this will give you a huge edge over your competition. If you can show you’ve made an effort and spent time researching the company they’ll know you’re serious and you’ll leave a good lasting impression.
Tip 4 – Sell, sell, sell yourself. Tell them why they should hire you over everyone else. This links in well with tip 3. If you already know who they are and what they are about, you can approach the exhibitor with confidence and sell yourself well. Always start conversations with what you’re interested in and what you’re looking for. If you approach someone and ask “Who are you and what can you do for me?” 9 times out of 10 the response you will receive will be “nothing!” Ask lots of relevant questions “What does the role involve?” “Does it require any training?” “What kind of person are you looking for?” You can then tailor your answers to this; lots of skills are ‘transferable’ - use this to your advantage. Remember, there could be 50 other people after the same job as you so don’t be scared to promote yourself, confidence and enthusiasm are infectious; if you believe in yourself others will believe in you too.
Tip 5 – HELP! Don’t be afraid to ask for help. JobServe Events staff are always on hand, often based on the JobServe stand or registration, to offer help and guidance. We can tell you who’s exhibiting, what they are looking for and generally point you in the right direction. Make sure you visit the advice clinics as well, trained professionals are on hand at most of our events ready to offer help and guidance on everything from CV writing skills and interview techniques to training options and job opportunities. If there are seminars on offer, make sure you attend them, take notes, ask questions and make sure you get any hand outs available.
Right, now you’ve got the look, your CV’s looking ‘fab’, you’re clued up on the company and full of confidence - all that’s left to do is land the job and with these top tips you’ll have no problem. Good luck!!
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