The job search puts us in front of many uncertainties about what to write in the curriculum, how to introduce ourselves, how to answer the questions of an interview, even how to dress for a meeting. Even when we apply for a specific offer and therefore know the company that hires and what profile exactly it is looking for, the doubts remain: how can I differentiate myself from other candidates, what do recruiters really want? Here are some answers …
Let’s start with a fact: your recruiters will only need your resume to make the first selection among the candidates, check the correspondence of your course of study, your experiences, and your skills to the job position offered. The verification on the card drastically reduces the number of people who will reach the interview stage. Remember therefore that it is useless to shoot your CV a little at random, it will end up in the trash in less than a second: your profile must be aligned with what the company is looking for and in the curriculum, which you must update and customize for each application, you have to value your studies, experiences, the facts of your life that make you ‘fit’ for the job offer. You can find different indications and links to how to manage and improve your CV.
Now let’s pretend that they have set up an interview for you. What do you think they will want to know about you that is not already written on the CV?
This is the moment in which recruiters look for confirmation that what is written on the CV is true and they try to understand better if there are other qualities or defects that can emerge only in a face to face comparison.
Even the questions of an interview can be prepared, also because there are frequent questions in job interviews, some time ago we talked about it, 4 in particular that being an ‘open’ answer can put into crisis …
- Tell us about yourself (or how you would describe yourself)
- Because you are interested in this job and our company (or this is your dream job)
- What is your strength and your weak point (or how do you manage stress? do you like working with others?)
- What makes you the ideal candidate for this position (or why we should hire you?)
Before presenting yourself for an interview, prepare the answer to these questions, but when face to face, try to be natural and make the answer seem spontaneous.
Recruiters want to hire the best, the talents, and when their research is aimed at recent graduates it is clear that the work experience may be lacking or completely absent. For this reason, for a new graduate, it is important to know how to play the character card well, the presence of soft skills.
There are 5 strengths or soft skills that all recruiters today look for in any candidate, for any job …
1 – Problem solving skills
Knowing how to collect and analyze information, solve problems and make decisions independently (in compliance with its scope of action, of course). This means putting your head in what you do, whether it’s simple and trivial things (as can happen in the beginning) or more important and complex things. Almost every job today requires analytical and problem solving skills, because this allows the company to achieve its goals (which must also be yours) and increase productivity. Showing the employer that you can gather information, solve problems and make decisions independently, that does not require continuous assistance, that you have at heart the ultimate goal of your job but also of the whole, is very important for those who must hire you.
And don’t forget that problem solving also includes creativity and lateral thinking.
2 – Knowing how
to communicate Written and oral communication skills are essential for almost all jobs, you will have to deal with colleagues of every order and degree, with customers or suppliers, in informal and daily or more formal situations, you will find yourself making presentations, talk on the phone, send e-mail, interact on various online and offline channels. In every situation it is necessary to be able to communicate effectively and appropriately. Your communication skills will be evaluated already in the written material and e-mail you use to apply to the job, but above all it will be the interview the moment of truth.
3 – Be reliable
Employers want to know they have reliable, responsible and professional employees. You must be able to present yourself in time and complete the work with defined deadlines. In the job interview you could be asked questions about reliability, find good examples to share in your path.
4 – Be flexible
Many jobs today require a certain flexibility, which means that you can be asked to manage more activities, that is to be multitasking on different projects; or to have flexible working hours. More and more companies are now thinking about evaluating your work by objectives and not by stamped tags, many companies live periods in which deadlines accumulate and extra effort will be required. Employees must also be open to changes in their role at work and be able to adjust their work program, if necessary, to achieve goals.
Employers prefer to hire employees who are willing to do their best to get the job done and who react well to changes in the typical workplace routine.
5 – Being able to work as a team
Most jobs require teamwork of some kind. Employers want candidates who are willing to work with others and can do it effectively. The hiring managers will be interested in how you worked as part of a team, and how you manage the teams.
