21 Tips for Job Seekers in 2021

Here are our tips for job seekers in 2021, we know that finding a new job can be a challenging and frustrating experience. To make things more complicated, COVID-19 is drastically changing the way we work and increasing competition for new job openings.

Despite the uncertainty around what job opportunities may be available in the post-COVID-19 future, it is important to understand that the experience and skills you have gained in your previous jobs are still valuable.  

To help you in these challenging times, we have prepared a list of 21 Top Tips for Job Seekers – timeless and universal tips for any Job Seekers, at any career level and in any industry.   

Collated by our Recruiters, this list will help you make your job search process easier, shorter and less stressful. 

Our list of tips for job seekers: 

Tip 1: Write an article on LinkedIn.

While articles do not get as many views as text posts, you should write at least ONE article that shows your expertise. If you are a Skilled Migrant and English is not your first language this is even more important. You can prove that you have mastered the language and potential employers won’t have problems communicating with you. You should include your article in the FEATURED section on your LinkedIn profile. The article should be lengthy with at least 2000 words.

Tip 2: Practice answering the question “Why did you apply for the role?”

Potential employers will ask this question for two reasons. Firstly, they want to check that you have done research about the company and you know what the job will involve. Secondly, they want to understand your career goals. So get ready to explain what makes the company appealing to you. Tip: Don’t mention pay or benefits, as the employer wants someone interested in the job, not the perks.

Tip 3: Have clear expectations about the salary but be flexible.

Know what fair market value is for the role. You can use SEEK, LinkedIn and Glassdoor to check current rates. Have a salary range e.g. $80k-95k per annum for a Site Engineer role in Australia. It’s important to understand that most companies have preset salary ranges for a given position and will offer in the median of the range. 

Let the Recruiter know upfront that you are open to negotiation if that’s the case. Once you have accepted a job offer, you MUST NOT change your salary expectations. The hiring process is often long and complicated and playing games with a Recruiter or an Employer is an absolute NO.

Tip 4: Prepare for Zoom or Skype interviews.

Start your interview preparations early. Test your laptop camera and audio. It’s a good idea to ask a friend or a family member to ring you to make sure you can hear the incoming call.

Have a professional virtual background. If you are using Zoom, you can easily download one for free (How to download a Zoom background ). You might also want to consider using earbuds so the interviewer can hear you clearly.

Ensure your computer is fully charged so you won’t run out of battery halfway through the interview. Choose a small chair that doesn’t creak when you move.

Check the time zone. If you are based in Brisbane and interviewing with a company in Sydney, there might be a time difference. You should check with the interviewer which time zone they are using for scheduling the interview.

Dress professionally and make sure nobody (kids, partner, animals) disturbs you during your interview. You should put you phone on silent but have it nearby just in case the interviewer tries to ring you on your mobile first.

A copy of your CV, a glass of water, pen and paper and a list of questions you want to ask during your interview are also a great idea.

Before the virtual call, close all browser pages and elevate your device so you are not staring down into the camera.

Extra Tip: If for some reason you are unable to connect with the interviewer, ring them and explain the situation ASAP.

Tip 5: Get ready to explain employment gaps.

It’s not necessary to explain employment gaps in detail, but you should give a short explanation to the interviewer or a recruiter. Whether it’s redundancy, travel, starting a family or health problems, your potential employer might want to know why you took a break from employment.

Tip 6: Have a job searching routine.

Set up a designated workspace at home where you won’t be disturbed. Create a list of 5 -10 companies you would like to work for. Start by visiting the website of each company and understand how you could fit in with them. Check if they advertise their vacancies directly on their website. If not, it’s likely they are using recruitment agencies, LinkedIn jobs or job boards such as SEEK.

Find each company on LinkedIn and FOLLOW them. This will allow you to stay up to date with company news and job openings. Like the posts so that the LinkedIn algorithm shows you similar posts and related content.

If the company doesn’t advertise jobs on LinkedIn, move to SEEK. Type in the company’s name in the “Search” bar and hit “Enter.” This will bring up any jobs the company might be advertising. If this search doesn’t bring up desirable results, use job title to search for job openings. 

Tip 7: Practice answering the question “Why did you leave your last job?”

If there is one question we can guarantee will come up in your job interview, it’s this one.

Why? Because your potential Employer wants to know if you are going to stick around if they give you a chance.

Your interviewer will want to know:

• Did you leave for a good reason? — Maybe your project came to an end or the company was in financial trouble and had to let staff go. Or maybe you had to move to another city for family reasons.
• Did you leave voluntarily, were fired or made redundant? — The interviewer will try to determine if there were any performance issues.
• Did you leave on good terms? – Can the Interviewer get references from your previous manager?

Extra Tip: Remember not to trash previous employers.

Tip 8: Rethink your résumé.

Your résumé is NOT a transcript of your education and work experience. Instead, it’s a marketing publication in which you are selling your skills and knowledge to potential employers. Your résumé should be crafted with your target position in mind and correspond with your LinkedIn profile.

Your work experience and your last job are the most important parts of your resume.

Initially, Recruiters will spend just six seconds on your résumé looking at your name, current title and company, current position start and end dates, previous title and company, previous position start and end dates, and education.

Additional tips for job seekers: read our blog on resume/ CV heat maps here. This article will help you edit your resume so that recruiters read they absorb the important information. 

Tip 9: Carry out a quality check on your résumé. 

Make sure your CV/résumé looks professional and easy to read.

• The font is easy to read.
• The format and layout are simple and professional looking.
• Sentences are short and factual.
• Use dot points to break up blocks of text.
• Your email address is professional (for example your name).
• Include your name, phone number and email address on
  every page.

Make sure your résumé is tailored to the job and employer.

• Use ‘keywords’ from the employer’s job ad to describe your past work tasks and responsibilities.
• Include a summary of your relevant work history.
• Only include information that is relevant to the job and employer.
• Provide a short explanation of any employment gaps.

Triple-check your résumé for spelling, content, and grammar mistakes.

Review your application before you submit it. You can use a tool like Grammarly to make sure your resume is free of mistakes. Once you click ‘submit’ your information is sent directly to the recruiter. Remember that first impressions count, so make the best one you can when you apply.

Addition tips for job seekers: read how to write an Australia CV here. 

Tip 10: Manage your digital identity carefully.

When you apply for a job, the employer will look you up online and make judgements about you based on what they find. If your online profile raises any red flags, they won’t consider you for the job.

Search for yourself online to see what comes up. Pretend you are an employer. If this was all the information you had on an applicant would you hire them?

Be careful about what you like and comment on across social media channels.

Derogatory comments about previous employers or colleagues can be extremely off-putting. Make sure your private content is private. Always think about your professional identity and reputation when making public posts.

Tip 11: Be a good listener.

Be a good listener. Listen carefully and be open to other people’s advice. Focus on the person you are speaking with and their body language. Show interest in what’s being said. Nod, smile and avoid interrupting the person speaking. Always thank the person for their time.

Tip 12: Practice, practice, practice.

Be aware of how your body reacts to stress. Do you avoid eye contact or fidget? Fidgeting and avoiding eye contact in an interview can be seen as being rude or bored. Practise for your interview in front of a mirror or with friends or family. Ask for feedback on how you present and what you might need to change.

Presenting well means the employer won’t be distracted or put off by how you look. Instead, they’ll focus on your skills, experience and other professional attributes.

Tip 13: Choose your Referees carefully.

Think about your referees carefully. Find people who can say you would be good for this job. Always list at least two people who will say good things about you and are not related to you. Always ask your referees if you can provide their details.

Tip 14: Profile your potential Employer.

When talking to employers about jobs, you need to show them you understand their business. You also need to explain how your skills and experience make you a good fit for their business. Figure out what employers want, before writing your job application or showing up to an interview. This can take a little time but it’s definitely worth it.

Here are some questions you might want to answer:

• What do you think are the business’s main priorities?
• What are the business’s values? What does it pride itself on?
• How do you see yourself fitting into this culture? What would you like about it?
• How many employees does the business have?
• Is the business growing or shrinking?
• What types of customers does the business work with?

Tip 15: Have a correct LinkedIn headline.

A LinkedIn headline is the section at the top of a LinkedIn user’s profile where you describe what you do in no more than 120 characters. This description appears next to your name in search results.

If you are currently employed, your headline should state your current job title. If you are unemployed, you should have at least two job titles you are seeking.

You should not write “Seeking a new job” or “Open to new opportunities” because Recruiters might not be able to find you on LinkedIn and you might come across as desperate.

Tip 16: Thank the Recruiter and write them a reference. 

You might be surprised to hear that Recruiters love receiving ‘Thank You” messages as well as positive online reviews. If you have had a good experience with a Recruiter, let the World know. In return, when you are looking for a new job, the Recruiter will very likely remember you and you might get some preferential treatment.

Tip 17: Write Recommendations on LinkedIn.

Writing LinkedIn recommendations for your connections is a great way to strengthen your profile. When you recognize a colleague’s work they might return the favour and therefore provide you with a reference for potential employers.

Tip 18: Learn to read job adverts.

While some job posts are very detailed and long, others can be short and skimpy and you should learn how to read between the lines. Start by reading the posting at least three times so you can identify what the interviewer is seeking.

Employers use ‘keywords’ to describe the important attributes they look for in workers. This can include technical and workplace skills and personal qualities. Look at the keywords in job ads to help you decide if you are suitable for the job. Use these same keywords to describe your skills and attributes. This shows the employer you understand their needs and are suited to the job.

Tip 19: Don’t be scared to talk about yourself. 

Many people who attend interviews are scared to talk about themselves because they worry it might come across as “bragging.” This is unfortunate because the interviewer wants to collect as much information as possible about the candidate. This is not “showing-off”; this is informing. If you do not choose to provide the information, you are forcing the Recruiter or your potential Employer to dig through your CV.   

Tip 20: If you decide to write a Cover Letter…

…tailor your cover letter to the specific job and employer. Address all the required skills needed for the job. Include a summary of relevant previous employment, qualifications and industry and occupational licences.

Make sure the cover letter is easy to read. The employer should be able to read the key points in your cover letter in less than a minute and understand why you are right for the job.

Your cover letter should include today’s date. Always attach your tailored résumé when you send out a cover letter.

Choose a simple and professional format and layout and use a font that is easy to read (for example Arial size 12). Ensure the letter is a maximum of one page in length.

Tip 21: Always send your résumé in a Word format.

As you might be well aware of, Recruiters often use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and CRM (Candidate Relationship Management) to track job applications, optimize the hiring process and create pools of vetted Candidates. Unfortunately, these complicated systems can only handle MS Word format documents. PDFs or image files don’t translate into these systems so sometimes parts of resumes can go missing.  

Recruiters might also need to add information (such as a company logo and a cover sheet) or remove information from your CV (your name and contact details) before they can send it to the Client. 

It’s also best to avoid inserting tables, columns or other strange formatting into your resume.  

Tip: Keep your CV or résumé simple! 

Credit to ConsultANZ Recruitment