No luck in your job search?

We suggest that you load your CV onto as many online portals as possible. For example: Pnet, Career Junction and Careers24 – to name a few – to get your CV out there. A lot of recruitment agencies and companies looking to hire go to these portals first and then other avenues to finding possible candidates for the vacancies they have available. Market yourself correctly by having the right and up to date information on your CV. Also ensure that there are no spelling or grammatical errors on your CV as this puts you at a disadvantage.

Tip of the Week: Add a photo to your CV! Make yourself unforgettable with a good quality, clear photo of yourself. People remember faces. Be sure to look neat and tidy with your best professional attire and attitude on!

Why didn’t I get the job?

It’s not just your work experience and qualifications that get you hired. When a company is considering candidates for a position they have available there are a number of factors that contribute to their final choice. Employers look at your personality, humans do not work in isolation, there is always a team of people that need to work together well to be successful. They look at the fit you could be in their company, they are constantly considering whether you will be a not only a successful employee for their company but whether you can and will successfully represent their company at all times in the best possible way. The employer is constantly asking the question “What value can this candidate bring?”.

CV Tip of the Week: It’s All In The Details.

Add as many details about your positions as possible. Adding your everyday duties and responsibilities gives possible employers and recruiters a more accurate all round view at what is you have done. Matching you to a possible position is then made easier. Showing how you went the extra mile, showed initiative and did more than your written requirements puts you above the average candidate. Be proud of your achievements and put them on your CV no matter how small or large. Be sure to add the company name, your position, dates worked and also your reason for leaving.

Candidate Tip:
When submitting your CV to any company as an applicant, judgment is sometimes made just off your CV. Spelling or grammatical errors are not a good first impression to a possible employer. Double and triple check your CV’s for typo’s and grammar. You need to put your best foot forward and a good CV is the first step.

Dress to impress
Don’t forget to take care when dressing for an interview, whether it’s the with a recruiter or the company. The way you dress is a representation of yourself in first time meetings such as this.

Most people work on the assumption of “how you measure me is how I will behave”, particularly if it is linked to our income. It is therefore important to measure our performance (both by ourselves and our supervisors), and link it directly to those activities that generate an income, in order to follow our dreams. What you cannot measure you cannot improve or capitalize on.

What to wear:
Do your homework and find out what the corporate culture is of the company that you are being interviewed by. Ensure that you dress appropriately to the culture so emphasis your ability to ‘fit in’.

Don’t presume you can dress down on a Friday, every company is very different and you want to make a positive impression. If in doubt, either ask or dress smart. As a rule, over-dressed is better than under-dressed.

If all else fails should I go knocking door to door to find a job?
The long and short of it is…. Yes. If that is what puts food on the table and a roof over your head and gives you personal job satisfaction that you are contributing economically… then you do it. Many many businesses rely on word of mouth to recruit staff, knocking on their door gets your face seen, your details into the market and the word is spread.

Making the most of interests:
Under interests, highlight the things that show off skills you’ve gained and employers look for. Describe any examples of positions
of responsibility, working in a team or anything that shows you can use your own initiative; and anything that shows how diverse,
interesting and skilled you are.