JOB
HUNTERS'
EBOOK
A modern guide to job hunting
Brought
to you by :
Welcome to the job hunters' guide
to looking for work in the digital
age – featuring pre-interview
prep and post-interview advice,
ideas for looking for work and
suggestions for what to do when
you get offered that job.
No matter what stage of the job
search you’re at, check out our
tips and advice.
GOOD LUCK
WITH YOUR
JOB HUNT!
PART 1 :
CONTENTS
PART 2 :
APPLYING
FOR JOBS
LOOKING
FOR A JOB
PART 3 :
LANDING
THE JOB
3
PART 1 :
LOOKING
FOR
A JOB
PLAN
BEFORE
YOU HUNT
The job search process is now firmly
online. Applying for a new job is easier
than it’s ever been, but standing out
from the crowd is harder. Whether you’re
looking for your first job or you’re
already employed but want a change,
you need to put a plan in place to find
the job of your dreams.
4
TOP 5 TIPS TO
KICKSTART YOUR
JOB SEARCH
1
Know your skills
2
Do your research
3
Polish your CV
You need to be honest with yourself when it comes to what you know,
what you like and what you want to do. Knowing what skills you have and
aligning them with your interests can help you to figure out what jobs could
be a good fit. Understanding your skills and knowing how they can be
transferred to different roles is an important part of the job search process.
If you’ve got your heart set on a particular role or working for a specific
company, find out about what skills you might need and, if you can, talk to
someone at the company to get an insight into what they look for in
potential candidates.
Tailor your CV to the industry and jobs that you’re going to target. Make
sure you only list your relevant, recent job experience – cut out older jobs to
save space. You can make your experience directly relevant to the job you’re
applying for by using the required and desirable skills mentioned in the job
ad as labels in your CV. Keep it short, sweet and to the point.
4
Clean up your online presence
5
Practice interviewing
Social media is a vital part of the job search process. If you make it to
the interview stage most employers will have looked you up online.
Before you start your job search make sure your digital footprint – all
of the places you can be found online – is one your mum would be
proud of.
Prepare and practise for job interviews – have a trusted friend or
family member roleplay an interview with you. Think of the questions
you might be asked. Having to articulate your answers is a huge help
as it forces you to be clear and concise.
If you don’t know where you are going,
you’ll end up someplace else.
Yogi Berra
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To use Skills Builder tool to help you
identify skills visit careers.govt.nz
5
WHERE ARE
ALL THE JOBS?
If you’re in the market for a job then you’re probably already looking
online. Here’s a checklist of where you can find ads for job vacancies.
The usual suspects
There are plenty of job vacancy websites out there and they’re a great
place to start your search. Save your favourite searches and have
suitable job ads emailed to you as they’re listed.
Recruitment websites
Recruitment agencies advertise on websites or in newspapers on behalf
of employers. You might find some crossovers from listings on general
job websites, but often a recruiter’s website is a good place to find
similar roles advertised in one spot . You may need to register with the
agency before applying – once you’re on their radar they can get in
touch about other jobs they think could suit you.
Government, council and industry
organisation websites
Government and industry organisations often list current vacancies on
their websites, and many have mailing lists you can sign up for to keep
up to date with the latest openings.
To look for jobs visit Trade Me Jobs
Social media
Social media has been a game-changer when it comes to how organisations
recruit. Many employers now post job ads on their social media accounts.
So start getting social – research a future employer’s online presence and
favourite, like and follow their accounts. Make sure your own social media
profiles are looking good.
Professional and industry journals
Journals will often list job vacancies. You can find these at your local
library or online.
Career expos
These are a great way to see what’s out there and meet recruiters.
Make a point of talking to people and asking lots of questions.
Don’t forget to pack a few CVs to hand out.
Print's not dead
Major daily newspapers usually have at least one issue per week with a job
vacancy section, and often a weekend edition will have a good selection too.
Stalking – the good kind
If there’s a company you’d love to work for, keep an eye out for vacancies on
their website or social media channels. You can also make contact with them
directly to ask about possible opportunities – call them or go to events
where you might be able to meet people that already work there.
6
WHAT ARE
EMPLOYERS
LOOKING FOR?
The personal qualities wish list
Demonstrating in a job application that you have relevant and soughtafter personal attributes will give you an edge. Here's what employers
are looking for in an employee:
Honesty
Ability to learn in the workplace
Good employers recognise that people have potential and the ability
to learn on the job. They’re not just looking for what you can do, but
also what you will do. A combination of suitable skills and positive
personal attributes is as important to employers as an exact match
with a job description.
Manners and courtesy
The flexible workforce
Responsibility
Advances in technology have seen a rise in the mobile work force. More
employees are working remotely, and organisations are using contractors
for project work.
Motivation
For flexible working arrangements to be successful, employers need
people who have strong communication skills and are trustworthy,
organised and reliable. These types of personal attributes will set you
apart from other candidates with the same qualifications or experience.
Flexibility doesn’t just mean able to work out of the office, though. If
you’re adaptable and can show that you’re prepared to learn and grow
with a job, you’re valuable to a potential employer.
Sense of humour
Positive attitude
Self-confidence
Good presentation
Self-management
3 things employers want to know about you :
1
2
3
Can you do
the job?
Are you
motivated?
Are you a good
fit for the
organisation?
7
Job skills from everyday life that you might not
realise you have
Interpersonal communication skills: written and verbal
Computing skills
Ability to work as part of a team
Ability to critically analyse information
Ability to rationally solve problems
Creativity
Flexibility
Leadership
A job ad may have a list of very specific skills but employers are also
interested in a number of generic skills that can be gained when you’re
not on the job or in training.
IF YOU THINK
YOU’VE GOT
WHAT IT TAKES…
PROVE IT!
Your CV and cover letter are your first chance to make a good
impression when applying for a job. Promote yourself by figuring
out what you could bring to a job, and describing your skills and
attributes to suit the role you’re applying for.
Think about how you use your broader skill set at work, in
the community, socially and at home, and how these might
be useful in the workplace. You may be able to demonstrate
your communication skills through your understanding of
social media, or your role in a community group might show
flexibility and teamwork.
Find out more about how to write a strong
CV and cover letter. See page 9.
8
PART 2 :
APPLYING
FOR JOBS
SELL YOURSELF
HOW TO MAKE
A GOOD FIRST
IMPRESSION
Compile a knockout CV
Your CV paints a picture of who you are. It needs to demonstrate
how you’ll add value to an organisation, what you do well, and
what problems you’ve helped solve. It must be tailored to the
job description.
9
Recruiters spend their time looking at the following
areas of a CV first :
CV
Get your foot in the door with a brilliant cover letter
A strong cover letter is critical if you’re applying directly to a company for
a role. It gives you an opportunity to stand out and demonstrate to a
business that you’re a good match.
Cover letters must be accurate and honest.
Don’t repeat your CV – instead, use your cover letter to show
personality, curiosity and an interest in the company, role and
industry.
1.
Keep it succinct and to the point.
Past job titles
3.
2.
Start and end dates
of previous jobs
Previous
employers
4.
Qualifications
Use clear, concise, exciting language with strong words like
organise, demonstrate and perform.
Link your skills and work experience to the job description.
Remember that the company needs a problem solved, and you’re
the solution to their problem. Clearly demonstrate how you’ll be
valuable to them.
Let the employer know why you’re applying for a new job –
especially if you’re already working.
Personal attributes such as honesty, friendliness, a good work ethic and enthusiasm
are also important. Demonstrating these in your CV and cover letter will help the
employer form a picture of how you’ll fit into the culture of the company.
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To create your own CV use
CV Builder visit careers.govt.nz
10
Think before you press send
It’s important to have a good
cover letter, especially if
you are currently overseas,
moving from another city, or
if you need a work visa.
It takes the guesswork away
and it is very helpful to know
more about a candidate’s
current situation.
Sarah Twohig,
Internal Recruiter
for Trade Me
Carefully select the roles that you apply for, and avoid applying for
numerous jobs across multiple fields.
Things to think about when you're sending out a CV
Follow up your application with a phone call – it can set you
apart from other candidates who haven’t made direct contact.
Plan your call so you can capture the employer or recruiter’s
attention in 20 seconds or less.
Email your CV whenever possible – don’t post it unless asked.
Put your cover letter in the body of the email when you submit
your CV if you’re sending it straight to an employer. If you’re
going through a recruitment agency, attach it as a PDF too.
Double-check there isn’t an online application to fill out – keep
your CV in a text document as well as a PDF so that you can
easily grab info from it to put into online application fields.
To find out more about how to write a
cover letter visit careers.govt.nz
11
HOW TO STAND OUT
IN A SEA OF ONLINE
JOB APPLICATIONS
The ease of applying for jobs online means there can be lots of applicants for
every job advertised. Many applicants may not spend time researching the
job or tailoring their application, and might be applying for a job that they
don’t have the skills or experience to do.
As a result, referrals are still the most effective way to find a job or fill a
position. This has seen the rise in popularity of using online professional
networking sites like LinkedIn to discover and connect with people.
Some facts about recruitment
It’s who you know – referrals are the most common
method of hiring employees .
The average recruiter spends only seconds looking
over a CV.
Many recruiters use applicant tracking systems –
software that searches by keyword – to cut down the
number of CVs and applications they need to read.
Tips to make your online professional profiles stand out
Keywords
Your profiles should include keywords
that match the skills and experience an
employer will be searching for. Use
keywords that are commonly used in
ads for your ideal job when describing
past experience and skills.
I always do a keyword
search if I’m looking for
a particular skill – for
example, for developers
I might search .NET
and C#.
Sarah Twohig,
Internal Recruiter for Trade Me
Connections
Your profile only appears to people you’re
connected to. The bigger your network,
the more employers and recruiters are
able to see you when searching for
people with your skills or experience, and
you’ll rank higher up on search pages.
Endorsements
Try to get as many endorsements as
possible – they work similarly to keywords by
increasing your search ranking.
Endorsements can show that you have a
large network of people who know you
have the skills you say you have.
Keep it current
Keep your profile and status up to date –
add training courses, volunteer roles and
casual work or one-off jobs as you do them.
Headline
Make your headline a value statement
– what is it that you offer a potential
employer?
Recommendations
Get solid recommendations from your
connections and put the best
recommendations at the top of your page.
Skills
Limit the number of skills listed in your
profile to those that align closely with your
industry – a list of around 10 skills is best.
12
SOCIAL MEDIA
HOW IT INFLUENCES
THE RECRUITMENT
PROCESS
Before you go in for that job interview, there’s a chance the company you’re
interviewing with may already know a thing or two about you, and this might
not come from your CV.
Social media research is an increasingly common method of finding out about
future employees. Knowing what employers are looking for and how and
where they’re looking can work to your advantage.
How employers are using social media – the facts*
62%
of employers in New Zealand admitted to screening
social media accounts
47%
of hiring managers will screen social media at the
application stage
25%
of hiring managers said they’d rejected a candidate
after viewing their social media
*Source: Robert Walters, 'Understanding the role of social media to complement attraction strategies',
accessed December 2016, www.robertwalters.co.nz).
Make social media work for you in seven easy steps
Keep your private life private!
Triple-check your privacy settings
if you’re really unsure – and if in
doubt, don’t post.
Be aware of spelling mistakes and
bad grammar – 66% of employers
said they would hold poor grammar
and spelling on a social media profile
against a job applicant.
Consider maintaining separate
accounts – one for professional, and
one for private. That way you can
dedicate one to looking good on the
internet, and the other for your
everyday life.
Use social media platforms like
LinkedIn and Twitter to boost your
public profile, make yourself more
visible to employers, and highlight
your skills.
Google yourself – a quick name
search in Google will reveal what
employers can see. If you like what’s
there then you’re fine. If something
dodgy comes up, see what you can
do to have it removed or made
private. If nothing shows up, raise
your positive profile by, tweeting or
building a LinkedIn profile!
If you’re in a creative industry,
use Instagram or a blog to show
off your creativity.
If traditional media isn’t for you,
check out industry-specific social
media. For example, pond.co.nz for
teachers, builderscrack.co.nz for
builders, – or show off your IT skills
and create your own!
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13
CREATIVE
WAYS TO
LAND A JOB
In competitive creative and tech industries, a CV or portfolio
that demonstrates your skills in an innovative way can be all
you need to stand out.
Thinking outside the box when applying for a job can be
highly effective, but the approach you take must be relevant
and appropriate – sending an extremely creative CV to a law
firm probably won’t impress. The most important thing to
remember is to tailor your CV to the job requirements and
keep it professional.
The game
A web developer in New York used his
design and programming skills to
create a virtual CV. Navigating through
the CV is like playing an online game you can choose where you want to go
by directing a cartoon character to
jump or fly to the information you want
to see. This is a fun, interactive way to
demonstrate professional skills and
experience.
Take a look at how these clever creatives took an innovative
approach to land the jobs of their dreams.
Take a look
rleonardi.com/interactive-resume
14
Hustle on Twitter
Talking CV
A clever pair of freelance creatives used
Twitter in an unusual way to get a job at a
highly respected advertising agency. Bas
van de Poel and Daan van Dam knew that
creatives use Twitter to keep up with
what’s happening in the advertising world.
They decided to take advantage of this
fact and created several new Twitter
accounts. Each account had a different
letter in its profile picture. If the Twitter
accounts were viewed one after the other
the profile pictures would spell out ‘Hire
Us’, and each letter linked back to the
team’s portfolio on Twitter. The pair
selected a handful of creative directors
from prestigious advertising agencies, and
followed them with their new Twitter
accounts. The creative directors saw the
words ‘Hire Us’ – and one of them did!
French creative Victor Petit decided
to do something that would make
him stand out in the competitive
communications industry. To get
attention, and land an interview, he
included a QR code to bring his CV
to life. One side of his application is
a standard CV. The other is a closeup photo of Petit's face with a QR
code over his mouth. When the code
is scanned a YouTube video featuring
Petit's mouth plays – transforming
his paper CV into a talking one.
Watch the video vimeo.com/25812909
The creative directors
saw the words, ‘Hire Us’
Watch the video vimeo.com/21228618
15
PART 3 :
LANDING
THE JOB
PREPARE
FOR SUCCESS
The interview is your chance to sell yourself to a
captive audience. If you want to make a good
impression you need to do your research beforehand.
Being prepared will help you answer the employer's
questions, and show you're keen for the job.
16
The interview prep checklist
Research the organisation
The internet is a great place to find out more about where
you’ll be working if you land the job. Find out about
products, services and key people. Researching the
company will demonstrate that you’re proactive and keen
for the job.
Anticipate the employer’s questions
Re-read the job description to anticipate what questions
you may be asked, and refer back to your CV and cover
letter to help you identify your skills and experience and
how they relate to the role. Prepare answers to possible
questions – even if they’re not asked, it makes you think
carefully about what you have to offer.
Have your questions – and evidence – ready
Make sure you have questions ready to ask. You may like to
take physical evidence of your achievements to interviews,
such as examples of your work, qualifications or written
references. Employers may also ask to see certain
documents or require you to do a test.
Practice your interview
Look the part
First impressions count. You don’t have to wear new or expensive
clothes, but make sure you have something to wear that’s smart,
simple and looks professional.
Know where the interview is
Work out how you’ll get to the interview location, and how long
your journey will take. Give yourself plenty of time to get there
– being late isn’t a good look.
PREPPING FOR
VIDEO INTERVIEWS
Video interviews may be live or recorded.
The secret to success is preparation and
practice – you need to get the tech sorted
and styling right before the interview.
Write out the questions you think you will be asked and
practice answering them. Better yet – get a friend to
interview you.
To find out more about preparing for face-to-face
and video interviews visit careers.govt.nz
17
The face-to-face interview
In the face-to-face interview, you’re being judged from the moment your potential
employer lays eyes on you.
When you introduce yourself to the interviewer/s: :
HOW TO NAIL THE
JOB INTERVIEW
The interview process is a chance for an employer to meet you in
person, and see how you compare to your CV. They’ll want to know
more about your skills and experience, and how you’ll contribute to
the company. They’ll also want to know if you actually want to work
for them, if you’ll be a good cultural fit and that you’re willing to learn.
Make eye contact, smile, use your first and last name, and give a firm but brief
handshake.
Be aware of your body language – what you say must be mirrored by how you
carry yourself. For example, if you say you’re open to new ideas but sit with your
legs and arms firmly crossed, you aren’t going to be convincing.
How you dress is also really important – make sure what you’re wearing is
appropriate for the job you’re applying for.
The video interview
The key thing to remember about the video interview is that any distractions are
amplified and will work against you.
Make a good first impression
Make sure you have the tech sorted – know what program to use and how to
use it, have a strong internet connection and make sure your computer battery
is charged or plugged in.
Most recruiters decide whether a candidate is right
for the job in the first ten seconds of meeting them.
Looks are important here too. The camera doesn’t like black, white or anything
with a busy pattern, so avoid wearing these – navy blue is best.
Choose a simple background – no mirrors or pictures – and remove all
distractions from the room, including animals, children and flatmates!
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18
Ask the right questions
Five tips for answering interview questions
1
2
Speak clearly, and vary your tone to show you’re interested
and enthusiastic.
Let the interviewer lead the conversation. If you don't
understand a question, ask for it to be explained or repeated.
Take time to think about each question before answering so
you can give a good response.
3
4
5
Be diplomatic and discreet – don’t criticise previous
employers or co-workers.
Give examples from previous experiences that demonstrate
your knowledge and skills.
Show confidence in your skills and be positive about what
you’ve achieved.
To get more tips for answering
interview questions visit careers.govt.nz
You’ll usually get the opportunity to ask questions.
It’s a good idea to prepare a few before you go into
the interview – they need to be genuinely seeking
information that’s not readily available on a website
or in a brochure.
Questions to ask in an interview
What type of work will I be doing in my first week?
What training and progression opportunities are
available in this organisation?
What are the people like – how are teams, workflow
and reporting structured?
What's the work culture like – how does this
company treat employees?
To find out more about questions you can
ask at an interview visit careers.govt.nz
19
NEXT STEPS
WHAT TO DO
IF YOU DO OR
DON’T LAND
THE JOB
Whether you are offered the job you interviewed for
or not, it’s important to take the time to think and
review the outcomes.
Hook, line and sinker - landing the job
Being offered a job is exciting. Although it’s natural to
want to accept it straight away, it pays to take the
time to consider the offer. Before you make any
decisions, get the offer in writing, as verbal offers can
easily fall through.
Things to think about before you accept the offer
Do you actually want to work for the organisation?
hink about whether it can offer you what you need for your career
T
progression, and whether you’ll be happy working there.
Is the job a good fit for you?
Does the job align with your interests and lifestyle?
What are the hours like?
Is there a lot of travel?
Will the position make use of your skills?
Is the company somewhere you can grow professionally?
What opportunities will this job give you?
Consider the opportunities for promotion, and whether you’ll learn new skills.
Are the benefits and pay right for you?
ake a good look at the salary package – is it fair? Find out how often your
T
salary will be reviewed, and if there are any commissions or bonuses.
To find out more about dealing with
job offers visit careers.govt.nz
Job vacancy websites like Trade Me Jobs can
give you a good idea about current pay rates
in your industry.
20
THE ONE
THAT GOT
AWAY
How to handle missing out on the job
Don’t be hard on yourself if you were interviewed
but didn't get the job. It may be that you were
beaten by a candidate who had more suitable skills
or relevent experience. However, you should always
review the interview process to see if you can
improve on anything.
Questions to ask yourself if you didn’t get the job
Did you have trouble answering any of the questions?
Had you done enough research about the employer
before the interview?
Had you prepared questions to ask the employer
during the interview?
Did you dress appropriately for the position and were you
well groomed?
Were you friendly and confident when answering questions?
If you didn't do as well as you’d liked in some of these areas, list the
things to improve for next time. For instance, if you had trouble
answering some interview questions, prepare answers to the questions
you found difficult and think of examples to back up your response.
GOOD LUCK WITH
YOUR JOB HUNT!
For more information and advice
visit careers.govt.nz or
call 0800 222 733
To look for jobs: visit trademe.co.nz/jobs
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