What does it take to secure the job you want?

Roxayne WestUncategorized

What does it take to secure the job you want?

There was a time that when going for a job interview, if you turned up well dressed, groomed and were polite, you’d pretty much get the job.

Well, it may not have been that straightforward, however, compared with the job search and recruitment process today, it may have been much easier to land your ideal job way back then.

The recruitment profession has evolved in leaps and bounds – gone are simple and straightforward questions like;

  • Tell me about your self
  • What are your greatest strengths (and weaknesses)?
  • Where do you want to be in 5 years’ time?
  • Why do you want this job?

Today professional recruiters, HR departments within companies and even line managers are employing sophisticated candidate evaluation techniques that have their roots in psychology, human behaviour and simulation exercises (role playing).

The list of candidate evaluation techniques used these days is challenging at one end of the scale all the way through to intimidating at the other end of the spectrum.

Some of the more common tools/techniques used include;

  • Personality/psychometric profiling
  • Aptitude assessments – including reasoning, spatial thinking, critical thinking etc
  • Behaviour based questions
  • Role playing and simulations
  • Case study analysis

And there are many more specialised techniques that were born from psychology and human behaviour analysis. While the recruitment process is extremely daunting and challenging for the candidate, also spare a thought for the person who’s doing the recruiting.

The person on the other end (either the one who’s doing the hiring or a professional recruiter), also has an objective – find the best person suited for the job.

Hiring employees is an expensive exercise and it’s even more costly if the recruiter gets it wrong – resulting in the new hire either leaving of their will or worse still, getting fired.

Having said all this, it does not have to be all that daunting and intimidating for the candidate.

Whatever recruitment technique the company employs, typically they are looking for a key set of skills within the candidate.And interestingly, it’s not necessarily hard core/technical skills – this is a given – if you’re going for a job as a management accountant, then you better have the necessary qualification and experience.

Rather, recruiters are more so these days looking for key soft skills – skills that tend to be inherent in the person rather than taught at school or university.

Key Soft Skills Most Employers Want

Soft skills can pave the way to your future success and a lack of them can do quite the opposite.

Here’s a list of the top 5 soft skills that you need to work on and develop.

Creativity: Employers are constantly looking for new ideas and perspectives for every aspect involving their business.  They want new, creative ways to problem solve and address issues with fresh approaches and viewpoints.

Communication:No surprises here.  However, given how glued we are to our devices, the art of communication is fast becoming a scarce commodity.  Being able to properly articulate your viewpoints, arguments and make a solid case (verbally and in writing) is still fundamental – no emojis thank you!

Time Management: This is an incredibly valuable skill but can take some serious discipline if you struggle with procrastination.

Teamwork: Success is hardly ever reliant on just one person, which makes teamwork vital in any workplace and why employers look for this skill in potential candidates.

Leadership: Problem solving, creativity, managing time, teamwork, and communicating are all skills that a compelling and effective leader possesses.  There will never be a surplus of good leaders – quite the opposite, there is a lack of good leaders – those who can lead from behind, reach new goals by motivating the team in the right way.

Finally, you will be much more successful in your job hunting endeavours if you go after a role/position that is aligned with your natural skill sets and that is in an industry/segment that interests you.

While desperation pushes many people to go after ‘everything and anything’, chances are that the blanket approach will be very disheartening and discouraging.  In order to increase your chances of landing your ideal job, it’s much better to be specific and targeted in your approach.

For a no obligation consultation, call Safety Services Australia on 02 9634 5912.