Sell yourself
As a graduate you have to think of yourself as a product or brand that you are selling to potential employers. Consider what makes you special — why should you be employed?
Employers have limited time and no fail-proof method for predicting future performance. To stand out among hundreds of other applicants you have to market yourself effectively.
First impressions count — employers make snap judgements, so make sure they make the right one about you!
Employers will base their judgements on your:
Written and oral communication skills
It’s hard to move from being a student used to a very informal environment to being a professional and having to be aware of the way you speak and present yourself. A common employer complaint is that applicants use casual language and slang terms in their applications. There is no place for ‘text-speak’ in a job application. Read Making the best of your job application
and Resume tips
for more information.
Ensure that you maintain a formal and polite tone during every kind of correspondence — whether by email, in person or over the phone. Treat every interaction with your chosen company as the chance to make the best impression you can. Speak to everyone from the company with respect — even if you’re simply arranging an interview time with the receptionist. You never know who has the boss’ ear!
The first point of contact with a company after you have sent in your job application will probably be over the phone. Make sure you answer your phone formally during business hours, and that your voicemail message is professional and states your name clearly.
The immediacy of email means it’s often treated more like a conversation. However, remember that it can be traced, recorded and forwarded — forever! It’s easy to dash off a response to an email without really considering how it will be received or interpreted. Treat your emails as you would any other written correspondence — take a few minutes to read them over before hitting send, and remember to check your spelling. Even if a potential employer uses informal language in an email, your best bet is to maintain a polite, professional style.
Have you ever googled your name? You might be surprised at what appears — and so might your employer. Be wary of your social life spilling out all over the internet via personal blogs and social networking sites. According to an Execunet survey 77 per cent of recruiters conduct internet searches on applicants, while up to 35 per cent reject applicants based on what they find.
Appearance
What to wear to a job interview? The number one rule is: don’t let your clothing distract from your message. Neat, clean and groomed is the key. What you wear can depend on the sector you’re going into — for instance, a job in advertising may allow you to dress a little more creatively, while the finance sector is usually quite conservative. Two hot tips from employers: clean your shoes, and make sure your socks match your pants — no white socks with dark pants! Click here
for more job interview tips.
Body language
We use body language to express our conscious or subconscious thoughts — 55 per cent of human communication is through body language, and we convey only 7 per cent of communication through the words we use. Interviewers will be assessing you through your non-verbal cues the minute you walk in the door.
- Handshake: make sure it’s firm — a limp handshake makes you look weak and indecisive. Two shakes up and down is fine. Don’t squeeze their hand too tight — it’s not a show of strength.
- Take body language cues from the interviewer: sit down when they do, and respond to their cues, for instance smile when they smile, nod in agreement when they talk.
- Posture: sit upright and lean forward slightly to portray an active interest and enthusiasm. Avoid crossing your arms as this can appear defensive.
- Maintain eye contact: you can look away every couple of moments to rest your eyes — try not to get into a staring contest!
Message
Public relations experts advise politicians and spokespeople to stay ‘on message’ in press conferences and media releases. This is also relevant during a job interview. Everything you say and do should reinforce your key message: you are the perfect candidate for the position, you have the skills and the experience, and you are very excited about working for their organisation.
If the role demands organisation and attention to detail, demonstrate these qualities through your punctuality and error-fee resume, and illustrate them with anecdotes about previous positions. Don’t waste time on information that doesn’t reflect your suitability for this particular position. Click here for more interview tips.