Your quality resume opened the door, but it’s only the first step in securing that dream job. RELATED: Need some job search advice? Watch these tutorials! Today’s HR departments have a burgeoning array of tools to assist them in the candidate-selection process. They’re crunching data on psychometrics, IQ, EQ, physical appearance and aptitude to uncover the evidence to support a merger with Brand You. Your mission is to present a persuasive performance that exposes – if not the real you – the ideal candidate for the job. It means being able to articulate how your qualifications and experience, your vocational goals, and even non-work-related activities align with the organization’s strategic focus. Google assesses, among other things, “Googlyness”: “Your comfort with ambiguity, your bias to action and your collaborative nature.” At Kraft, being an ardent fan of macaroni and cheese won’t sway the selection panel unless you’ve also got sound people-development experience, listening skills, and mental agility. But although the rules of the game may vary, most organizations focus on some key factors. Here are three things HR looks for in an employee:
Setting your resume apart from the hundreds of other potential candidates that a recruiter assesses in a day can seem like an impossible task. Related: Only 3 Things Impress Recruiters On A Resume We take comfort in thinking that everything we include in a CV will be read and potentially passed on to a prospective employer, however, the reality is very different. Studies have shown that including certain features on your resume, such as a photo or even a cover letter, can hinder your prospects. Likewise, spelling mistakes or a lot of irrelevant information will ensure your resume takes a one-way ticket to the recycle bin. Now this may seem like your CV is receiving harsh treatment (after all you probably put a lot of work into creating it), but the truth of the matter is, the average recruiter only has about five to seven seconds to scan your resume and decide if you are a fit candidate for the position. For this reason, it is important that it packs a punch from the beginning. By any assessment standards, five to seven seconds is not a lot of time to sell yourself. In fact, it is only enough time for the recruiter to review your name, company and current position, previous position and education. If you want your CV to get noticed, it is important to capture the recruiter’s attention. Here are some expert tips on resume writing from New Zealand-based specialist, Robert Half Recruitment:
Unemployment: it’s a situation that many fear and that can lead to financial hardship, high levels of stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem. For anyone who has been made redundant, had their employment terminated or quit their job, facing down the barrel of unemployment is a scary prospect. Related: 5 Things You Should Be Doing If You’re Unemployed For whatever reason you are out of a job, being unemployed is no time to be complacent. Instead, look at your period of unemployment as an opportunity to reassess yourself as well as reinvent yourself. They say that as one door closes, another door opens. Use this period wisely and that other door may be a giant leap forward in your career path.
Impossible deadlines, late hours, and demanding workloads are some of the major causes of stress in the workplace. Couple this with millions of dollars and a high stakes game of cat and mouse in an unpredictable financial market, and you will get the feeling of what stress can feel like. Related: Your Parents’ Career Path Vs. Yours: How Things Have Changed Indeed, a recent survey of finance workers in 26 countries, carried out by UNI Finance, found that more than 80% of banking unions in Europe reported deteriorating health as a major problem for union members. It’s important for industry professionals to consider the role stress plays in their career. Some people thrive in stressful situations, while others do not; and before taking on a stressful position consult with your family, colleagues, or finance recruitment professional on whether the role is right for you. That said, here are the top demanding and stressful career paths.