Crash course: How to get a job during a recession

Statistics show that 43,000 employers are trying to fill 80,000 vacancies.

Even during times like the recent financial crunch, there is no such thing as a job recession in the market. Local and global markets always have jobs. The funny thing is that even when companies are making layoffs, others are hiring.

Employers are still willing to pay the right money for the right candidate. Statistics indicate that around 43,000 employers are seeking employees for 80,000 vacancies. This fact shows that the Pakistani market is still full of jobs.

However, the most interesting element of the Pakistani market is that often employers do not find the “right person” and the “right person” does not find the “right job”.

Getting a job is like selling yourself and the candidate must be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to get one. The golden rules listed below can go a long way in helping one get a job.

You are a product

Organisations do not hire people; they invest money on a product which multiplies their revenue. The product must have a good brochure, an eye-catching wrapper, a specific skillset and an affordable price-tag.

Your CV is your brochure

A good CV catches employer’s attention as soon as he looks at it for the first time. Most of the candidates develop their CVs in hassle. It is always a good idea to develop a new CV for every position a candidate is going to apply for.

Collect information before applying

Candidates must collect information about the organisation and the nature of the job they are going to apply for. They must know the job description of advertised vacancy and should visit the website of the organisation for detailed information about the business of that particular organisation. In short, you should know what you are getting into.

Interviewing skills

First impression, confidence, body language and selection of words definitely play their role in an interview; however, interviewers are more interested in knowing what value would you add to the organisation/department if you are hired and what cutting-edge quality do you have over other candidates?

Use the language you are comfortable in

Often candidates try to speak English, or try to speak it with a foreign accent during interviews. Speaking error free English is a skill which is not required for every job. An accent is definitely not value-addition. In interviews, we must speak a language we are comfortable with.

References are not important

A reference is a gateway to any organisation, however, it does not guarantee you a job. No one likes to invest in a product that is not useful.

Have a dream

Have a dream and follow it with your full potential. Do not apply for every job, you encounter. Apply for a job that takes you to your dream position. Your job hunt should be specific and target oriented.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2011.