Looking for new job? Need some tips?

This is an excerpt from the article How to get your first job? published in The Express Tribune by  

Hammad Siddiqui,
an institutional capacity building specialist

1. Make a list of companies that you would like to work for. Check the career section on their website. (Google alert is a good tool, use it)

2. Make a list of companies you have applied to with the respective dates and the job references.

3.Be prepared to write a follow-up letter.

4.Prepare a master CV and tweak it a bit for each application to reflect the values of the company you are applying to

5. Research the company prior to going for an interview; visit their website, study their annual report, look at their hierarchical structure, and check relevant Linkedin profiles.

6. Prepare a list of expected questions and practice answers to these questions.

7.Prepare a list of questions that you wish to ask during the interview.

8. For hidden job market leads, an immediate follow-up is important.

9.Build a network with those searching for jobs. This helps in lead generation.

10.Remain in contact with those who have been recently hired; there might be other opportunities in the same organization.

11.Check your email at least twice a day and respond immediately.

12.Engage in social media such as Linkedin, Facebook and Twitter.

13.Register on job portals.

14.Dress professionally and appropriately for the position you are applying for -don’t overdress but don’t look informal.

15.If you are a student with no prior work history, make a list of your hobbies, clubs you belong to, or sports you’re involved in. Show that you have strengths.

16.Visit the company office a day prior to your interview to familiarize yourself with the location.

17.Employers want to hire productive, positive individuals. Be positive, but do not play with your words. Always speak positively of former employers and co-workers no matter why you left, even if you were fired from your last job.

18.Let the employer lead into any conversation about benefits. When discussing salary, always be flexible and avoid naming a specific salary.

19.Close the interview on a positive note. If the employer does not offer you a job on the spot or say when you will hear from them, ask what their time frame is for making a decision.

20.I recommend a brief thank you note to the interviewer.