What to consider when job hunting

What to consider when job hunting

With the unemployment rate at 27.5% in South Africa according to a Stats SA announcement on the 30^th October 2018 which is an increase from the 27.2% rate announced at the end of the second quarter of 2018, the importance of a well-structured and accurate CV must not be underestimated. Your CV is a marketing document and presentation is key.

Your CV is your first and most important step towards your sought after position. The job market will judge you by your CV. Your CV needs to be relevant, professional and properly highlight your strengths, experience and qualifications. Use of a professional template is essential entering only accurate information.

When constructing your CV, it is critical to keep in mind not to falsify information. Human resources and recruiters will perform background screening checks on prospects some of which are criminal, credit and qualification checks. Falsifying information on your CV constitutes gross dishonesty which warrants dismissal. According to IFacts background screening company, job seekers planning or who have lied about qualifications are committing a serious act of fraud which could lead to possible jail time should employers choose to prosecute.

When it comes to references, be sure to give contact details of persons who you reported to. A colleague, friend or family member’s details are not advisable, the referee needs to be a person who was in a more senior position than yourself and who you directly reported to. The position and contact details of the referees are often checked by human resources or recruiters by contacting the human resource department of that company in question to ascertain that the referee was in fact in the particular position as disclosed and is or was an employee of that organisation.

When a position becomes available with a fairly common skill set, several hundred applications are received. It is therefore vital that your CV is standing out from the crowd. Recruiters sift through hundreds of applications often rejecting poorly structured CV’s moving onto job seekers who have placed a considerable amount of effort into creating a professional and presentable CV.

When applying for a post ensure that your CV is legible and well laid out. Follow basic instruction with the job advert as to how to apply, thus showing that you are able to follow instructions. Ensure that you have read the job specification and that you fulfil at least 80% of the requirements. Keep in mind that although you may fit the profile of the job specification 100%, companies sometimes have other criteria that they need to consider such as employment equity requirement quotas that need to be reached as prescribed to them.

Be aware of scamsters in the job market posing as recruiters charging job seekers for finding employment or registration fees. The labour department set out the following regulations as passed under the Skills Development Act (1998) that an employment service shall not charge fees to work seekers exceeding a registration fee of R1. Job seekers are advised to remain vigilant at all times and to report any suspicions of irregularities to the nearest department of labour offices.

To determine if a job advertisement is legitimate it is advisable to do some research. Ensure that no fee is charged. Check email addresses, most recruiters will use traceable corporate email addresses. Research the company advertising the post, do they have a legitimate website, do they have contact numbers. Who answers when you call and what do they say. Check the source and ensure that company is legally registered.

Last don’t take rejection personally, maintain a positive job search attitude. Stay motivated and focused and persevere.