The post How to Get A Job With No Experience appeared first on BC Jobs Blog.
]]>Be realistic about job opportunities. There are lots of entertaining movies about accidentally landing great jobs, but don’t be fooled. Trading Places is funny – but isn’t reality.
The key is to take the time to gather resources and references that will help you with your job hunt journey. Taking it one step at a time will help you feel more in control and directed.
Before you have the chance to use your skills of persuasion in person, you need to create a ‘paper version’ of yourself – also known as a resume.
If you have little to no technical experience, there are ways to point to the qualifications or skills you have that will be an asset to the company.
For this crucial step in the job hunt, you want to focus on having a clean and relevant resume. Take some time to write out your ‘soft skills’. These are usually interpersonal skills important for success in the professional world. Employers value soft skills such as good communication and teamwork – those are hard skills to come by. This shows that you will be a good team player and have emotional intelligence.
Take some time to sit down and asses your soft skills, any relevant experience, and a list of references who could speak to your character and ability. Don’t be afraid to get creative with your resume – as long as it’s creative and not dishonest. Choose examples that best show who you are as a worker – your personality and ethic.
An example would be a volunteer job at a summer camp for kids. It doesn’t directly relate to the sales position you’re applying for; it speaks to responsibility and the ability to handle chaotic environments.
Check out this reference for creating a resume with no experience.
If you have packaged yourself well, you’ll soon have a foot in the door. Once a recruiter approaches you, make sure your communication style is clear, professional and shows interest.
If you take a week to respond to an interview invitation – it doesn’t look good. Return phone calls, emails or messages respectfully. Recruiters are busy and deserve your full attention… particularly if you have no experience to speak of.
Standing in front of the recruiter for the first time, you need to be certain that what they see and hear is what they want. Your goal here is to dazzle and convince a company to take you on, and that’s not always so easy.
Make sure you’ve put in an appropriate amount of time and attention to what you look like for an in-person interview. Dump the coffee, pop in a mint and make sure you’re wearing a wrinkle-free professional outfit.
Before you meet the recruiter, do your homework on the position and the company. Be knowledgeable about what you’ll be doing and how your skills can contribute to the workplace. Most interviews include cookie-cutter questions, so have some prepared answers to common questions that show your personality in the best light.
Be positive and show a can-do attitude. It does wonders for nailing an interview.
Putting yourself forward for jobs you’re unqualified for can be scary. If you experience some closed doors, don’t be afraid to get back on the horse. A recruiter will come by who sees the raw potential and will invest – as long as you do.
Simon Chou is the Vice President of Operations and Growth at BCjobs.ca. Over the course of his career, he carved a niche in brand development, marketing strategy, and online presence for startups. Prior to BC Jobs, he served as a marketing advisor for high-profile blockchain projects including Litecoin, NEM, and Ripple. He’s also worked with fortune 500 companies in the healthcare space.
The post How to Get A Job With No Experience appeared first on BC Jobs Blog.
]]>The post 5 Signs You Might Be A Star Candidate appeared first on BC Jobs Blog.
]]>The best sign you will ever receive is if the company is persuading you to work for them. Performance tactics include scheduling interviews around your availability, introducing you to staff members, and spending some time explaining the perks of the job.
This often ends up feeling as if you are interviewing the company, and they are putting their best foot forward. You’re often a cinch for the job if this is a major theme throughout your interactions.
If you’ve had great communication and a hiring process that hasn’t been dragging out for weeks on end, this is a good sign you’re doing well. If there are repeatedly ‘missed’ emails, or an interview ends with: ‘we’ll be in touch soon’, start looking elsewhere. You want to hear specifics and timelines as these suggest commitment.
When a recruiter is vague – there’s a reason for it. Companies hire recruiters specifically for their ability to collect and bring on talent. If a recruiter is being noncommital, it’s not a good sign. Don’t be afraid to ask for more straightforward communication, just don’t be pushy.
If you don’t slay the interview, there’s still hope. While recruiters know that interview nerves can set in if your paper skills are good enough they will get in touch with your references. This allows the recruiter to get a sense of what working with you is like.
If you know your references will praise you honestly and speak to qualities that the recruiter is looking for, be happy. Many candidates don’t have honest resumes, let alone references who will support them.
One of the best signs for a star candidate is someone who meets the basic requirements and then some. You will be a great asset to any job if you can provide creative or insightful perspectives. Be able to speak concisely about your basic and bonus abilities.
This will come across as intriguing and refreshing, making you stand out. Just make sure that your outside skills are truly relevant to the position!
Wowing your recruiter can take some serious effort, especially if they’ve been slogging through a day of disappointing interviews.
Start out with a big smile and don’t let your energy flag during the interview or follow-up conversations. Stay positive and keen – even if you have to ham it up a bit. If you can accomplish this during the hiring process, it will be helpful to your candidacy.
If you experience some, or all, of these signs, stay connected with the recruiter. If these signs are absent from your interviewing process, it may be time to look for somewhere you can clearly shine.
Simon Chou is the Vice President of Operations and Growth at BCjobs.ca. Over the course of his career, he carved a niche in brand development, marketing strategy, and online presence for startups. Prior to BC Jobs, he served as a marketing advisor for high-profile blockchain projects including Litecoin, NEM and Ripple. He’s also worked with fortune 500 companies in the healthcare space.
The post 5 Signs You Might Be A Star Candidate appeared first on BC Jobs Blog.
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