Job Hunting: Get the new job you want in 2012

So you have set your big New Year’s resolution to get a new job. Here are some top tips to ensure that you get that new job you want:

1. Read the job ad carefully – make sure that you understand what the job is about and the sort of person that they are looking for. You need to be able to fulfill all of the essential skills and at least some of the desirable skills set out in the advert if you want to stand a chance of getting the job.

2. If you don’t see any jobs advertised that you like then promote yourself directly to companies that you want to work for using online staff databases like Shop4Staff or social media channels. Some of the best jobs are “hidden jobs” which never reach the open market.

3. Carefully proof read your application/online form/CV – if spelling and grammar is not your strong point then enlist the help of a friend who got an A in English!

4. Tailor every application or approach to a company to their specific requirements – be clear about why you want to work for them and heap praise on the things that they do well or are especially proud of.

5. Research well before the interview. Don’t just read the company website – google them to find out what other people think of the company or ask around in the local community to see what kind of reputation they have.

6. Visit the company as a customer (where practical) – this gives you a great insight into the products and services on sale and allows you to speak from experience rather than just from reading info on a website.

7. Practice interview questions with a friend or family member – ideally someone that you are not too close to so that they can be objective and give you some genuine feedback about your performance.

8. Contact the company if you don’t hear back quickly after interview. A bit of extra enthusiasm may just get you noticed, especially if there is more than one job going. Opening a dialogue with somebody in the HR department in this way may also mean that you are remembered next time when a similar role becomes available.