What do employers actually mean when they seek a passionate, motivated, innovative individual?
This article from The Guardian helps to explain what employers mean when you see these buzzwords in their job vacancy – and how to show you have the skills to match.
Jobcentre Plus work coach, Anna Ogilby, gives her tips on remaining motivated and up-beat during those difficult moments when looking for a job.
My name is Anna Ogilby. I’m a work coach at Goole Jobcentre. Every day I help customers to find work and I’m often there at the sharp end when they get those rejection letters from a job they really wanted.
I know how much rejection can hurt in job search, as well as in life. This is my advice for picking yourself up and moving on if that happens.
Get active! Get some fresh air. Staying active is the best way to keep yourself motivated. It stops you getting despondent and helps generate new ideas. Treat each day as a new day and keep your body and mind active whatever disappointment you encounter.
Own it. If you weren’t successful at an interview or you’re not getting responses from employers, consider the reasons why. Is there anything you can do differently? Self evaluate and be frank and totally honest with yourself. Don’t forget to also “own” your achievements and have confidence!
Always ask for feedback. Don’t miss an opportunity to ask for this to give you something to build on. Be pro-active and contact employers if you haven’t heard from them since you applied for the job. It shows initiative and puts you in a better position for future vacancies, even if you weren’t successful on the first occasion. It is not uncommon for previous candidates to be employed for future vacancies in the same role.
Learn. Never pass up on a learning opportunity. Does feedback indicate you have a skills gap? If so, what can you do about it? Enrol in study/training, volunteer and ask about work experience etc. Ask your work coach about what’s available locally to help you. Don’t miss opportunities to move forward.
Never lose sight of your GOAL. Positivity breeds results!
It’s easy to lose motivation when job searching. So what can you do to get out of that slump and back on track? Work Coach Bethan Evans, from Aberdare Jobcentre in South West Wales, shares her top tips.
Studies have shown that rejection in any form can completely destroy self-control, whether it’s towards a diet, getting to bed early or job searching. As a job seeker, the sad likelihood is that you will at some point face rejection.
So how do you get back up from that ‘unfortunately you have not been successful…’ response? The first step is simple. Understand that it’s not personal! I cannot stress this enough. For any one job, there can be hundreds of people applying. A failed application does not mean a failed jobseeker. I know it can be tough to get a rejection, or worse, no response at all, especially if you’ve put in a lot of effort. But it’s never wasted time. All the work you put into that one application has moved you closer to a successful application.
Use small rewards to help you stay motivated. Sent out three CVs? Completed an application form? Secured an interview? Then treat yourself. Whether it’s half an hour on the PlayStation or a bar of chocolate – whatever it is that will give you that little buzz – do it, you deserve it!
Now you are in a better frame of mind, start to focus on what it is you have that will appeal to employers. Everyone has a unique set of skills and experience to offer. Sit down and have a think about what it is you’ve got that others might not. Think about compliments and positive feedback you’ve received in the past. What were you doing at the time? You might just realise you have a whole host of skills that you’d never even thought of. Jot them down on your CV and fire up the search engine!
Finally, focus. Focus on where you want to be, not where you are. If you have a destination in mind, you’ll better understand the journey to getting there. Ask yourself, what do I need to do to achieve this? Once you’ve asked that question, you can start answering it.
LinkedIn is a social networking site that allows jobseekers to showcase their potential to a wide range of organisations and businesses, helping them headhunt the talent they need. So, can it help you? Susan Pearson, a work coach from Seacroft Jobcentre in Leeds, thinks it can:
Over 6.5 Million jobs worldwide are advertised on LinkedIn and for many companies it’s the first tool they use for vetting job applicants.
If you already have a LinkedIn profile or are thinking of creating one, you may be wondering what to include. In answer to this, I would say, anything a future employer would want to know about!
When you create an account, start by using information from your CV to summarise your previous job roles and responsibilities. Remember to talk about the value you added rather than just listing what you did. For instance, “answered all incoming calls in a timely manner, resolved queries and when necessary escalated problems to management” gives a greater sense of what’s involved in the task than simply saying “answered the phone”.
When writing your profile, remember not to narrow it down too much so it ends up only being relevant or appealing to one sector rather than to a whole range of companies who could be interested in recruiting you. Concentrate on talking about what motivates you, what you have to offer and your aspirations.
If you’ve done any voluntary or charity work, put it down – 65% of employers have stated that they would form a positive assessment of someone based upon this.
Be very careful to check spelling and grammar on your profile. Prospective employers are unlikely to look favourably on anyone whose personal profile is riddled with typos, in fact, they might just reject you outright.
Include a smart head and shoulders photo (not a selfie!). Many employers ignore someone with an incomplete profile, and this includes the photo. Having a photo also ensures you are recognisable to past employers or colleagues. It can also help you build a personal “brand”. It can be a good idea to use the same photo across all social media sites you are on.
A successful LinkedIn profile needs to be seen, otherwise it’s just a nice web page! Once you’ve set up your profile, the first thing to do is get connected. You can only view the profiles of people in your network. So use the search box to look up previous companies you have worked for, find the people you know, and press ‘connect’.
When you have some connections in place, take a look at their profiles, check out the skills they have listed – if you agree with what they say, press ‘endorse’ (as simple as the Facebook ‘like’ button). They should come back and endorse your skills too.
You will be able to see the connections of each person you make a connection with. Use these to find other people you know and connect with them. Before you know it you’ll have a great network of business contacts and might just be a step closer to getting a new job.