5 Tips for jobseekers on how to stand out in the job market, conquer discouragement & stay motivated.

1) Word of Mouth

Remember the old saying “news travels fast” – well it’s true! Nothing beats the good ‘ol way of spreading the news than word of mouth. In fact, in all my years of recruitment experience, this is something that is attributed a vast number of hires. Get your friends and family in the know about your desire to seek new opportunities.

2) Social Networking

The world is fast evolving and technology is daily innovating new ways to make connections between people more efficient and further reaching. Leverage off of these opportunities and use Facebook & Twitter to let friends know you are in the job market; search company Fan Pages and Follow them on Twitter as they often advertise job vacancies utilizing this media. Linked In is equally as useful in creating a professional online profile that looks just like an online CV. There, your details are searchable and again, it’s a great place to find jobs advertised and new career opportunities.

3) Register your Profile Online

Along with Linked In there are many online job boards where you can access job vacancies and register your CV & profile. Places such as Thirst4Work, and the best thing about it (much like the social networking tools) – its free!

4) Specialist Recruitment Partners

If you have a specialist skill, perhaps along with registering with local recruitment agencies, it is suggested to find specialist agencies that recruit for your niche area of expertise e.g. IT, HR or Finance. These expert agencies allow for your details to sit among a specialist pool of candidates as opposed to a general mix-match of candidates across varying job categories – the benefit being more focused attention.

5) “Like” attracts “Like”

A positive energy goes a long way to positive things happening in your life and in this instance; your job search. People are attracted to positive people and sure enough something will come through for you at just the right time. Remind yourself that negativity breeds negativity: remain focused, and realize that success never comes easy, its all about perspective and you probably wont get the next job you apply for – but look forward to all the people you meet along way, make new contacts, network and enjoy the experience as a learning one. There is always something for everyone, follow your heart and smile, you will find the right thing in the right time.

Kindly provided by Ashley Swanepoel from Talent Desk

ashley@talentdesk.co.za