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There are so many job vacancies in the market. And there are much more applicants not finding a job.
Are you an applicant? Why are you looking for a job? A job is not a career. Are you looking for a career?
When applying, we need to determine our personal objectives. Human Resource (HR) or recruiters are eager to find the right candidates but there's a formula to finding the right fit for the position. HR don't just hire applicants who finished a college fit for the post. They are also looking for the right attitude, potentials, and cultural fit. How you state your personal objective in finding a job tells the HR that you know what career path you want to make or how you will carry out yourself in a work setup.
A Well Written Resume is Never Enough to Land you a Job. Yes, your curriculum vitae (CV) is the gateway for HR to see if you have the skills, knowledge and experiences necessary for the position. Work life realities, above your resume, HR would have to see your decision-making skills and so they ask you situational questions to determine how you think.
Nowadays, there are several online tools and resume-writing services to help you prepare your CV. They can align your resume to the job requirement by adding information that determines your skills and competencies. Your job is to prove that what you have written in your resume is true and correct. HR, through interviews, validates this information. There are also some assessments that measure your skills. So be honest with your resume. Have confidence in selling yourself and do not feel frustrated if you fail, because it's for your good and the company. If you are not fit for a post, you may find yourself struggling very hard during the probationary phase. You may lose time, effort, and confidence if you think of it as a trial-and-error venue. That is why I always advise new graduates during career talks that if they are going to apply for a position in a company, prior to applying, try to study more about the organization, and see if they meet the minimum criteria for the job.
Companies are looking for employees who would stay long. This is the reason why HR or recruiters ask "Where do you see yourself 3 years or 5 years from now". They are gauging you if you are a keeper. Though this is not fixed, and the employee may change their mind later on, still if you have a mindset that you just need to get experience for a year to find your dream job, this will be reflected in your actions and answers. Your sincerity during interviews will show.
Your Entry Job may not be your Career plan, but it surely is your 1st step on the ladder. Learn well what kind of organization you will apply for. The 1st Job you'll get from that company may not really be your target career. But know that within that organization, the career that you are aspiring for may open its doors for you in the future. Do your job well and you will have higher chances of getting your dream job when opportunities come. Companies now are very conscious that they need to show the career path plan to their employees so that they will not jump off the board or resign. Employees may transfer from one position to another and through this, the company would be able to keep the knowledge resources. It is more costly to hire constantly than to retain employees. The risk lies in operational delays that resulted from retraining, and adjustments needed by new employees.
Let me end my tips here so that you will not have information overload. My last word is carefully plan for your application. Be ready for the interview by keeping yourself informed about the position and the organization.
