Make sure you're getting the most out of your job interviews.

in five years cartoonThis is a guest post by Dave Thomas. If you’d also like to guest post here on JobMob, follow these guest post guidelines.

For those out of work, a bad economy is a major stumbling block to getting back to work and re-establishing a semi-normal life. With that being the case, what can you as a job seeker do to better enhance your chances of getting that coveted job interview?

While some decisions you make in the job hunting process are rather obvious, some can go unnoticed or forgotten, leaving you out of the loop when it comes to getting another job interview, putting you one step closer to potentially locking up suitable employment once again.

First and foremost, take the time to review the job interviewing process by going over these items:

1) Am I looking for jobs in the right places?

If not, you can be left spinning your wheels and wasting valuable time and energy. Target the companies that not only you are interested in, but where your chances of getting an interview are best suited.

2) Do I have a resume that is more than just presentable, but one that gives me the best chance to get my foot in the door at the company I go after?

If you have gaps in your employment record, be prepared to explain them should you get a phone or face-to-face interview. The time gap can involve things like having been laid off, trying to start your own business, maternity leave etc. One way or the other; be able to fill in the holes so you don’t look like you’re not being entirely truthful.

3) Where is my resume going?

You would be surprised how many job applicants cannot answer such a simple question. When you don’t have a direct contact to direct your information to, your resume stands the possibility of being lost among the hundreds and thousands of emails a company gets during a typical week. Take the time to find out the person or department to forward your resume to online should it not be clearly spelled out in the advertisement.

4) Am I following up?

How many times have you sent a resume, only not to follow up to see if the intended target received it, held interviews, and hired someone? While you don’t want to come across as a stalker, you need to stay on top of the resume/application process. A simple follow up email or call (some places say no phone calls) not only shows you are interested in the opening, but allows you to list which prospects are better than others.

5) Am I leaving the right impression?

In the event you are not called for an interview but find the job was filled, it never hurts to send a short sentence or two (email) thanking the company for accepting your resume. You never know when another opening may come along with this company; having left them with a positive impression of you never hurt.

Given the countless number of people out of work at the present time, just getting in the door for an interview these days is an accomplishment.

At the end of the day, increase your chances of being the one whose interview leaves them with an easy decision to make in who to hire.
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About the Author

Dave Thomas writes extensively for business.com an online resource destination for businesses of all sizes to research, find, and compare the products and services they need to run their businesses.

If you liked this article, you'll also enjoy 10 Tricky Job Interview Questions and How to Answer Them.

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Jacob Share

Job Search Expert, Professional Blogger, Creative Thinker, Community Builder with a sense of humor. I like to help people.

This Post Has 3 Comments

  1. David Stillwagon

    Solid advice especially number one. You can really waste alot of time looking at the wrong places to find a job.

    Good blog!

  2. BUDDIKA KRISHANTHA JAYARATHNA.

    I AM FROM SRI LANKA.LIVE IN KUWAIT.MY JOB IS HOUSE DRIVAR.AND EXPERIENCE IS 8YEAS.

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