Have you sent out plenty of resumes but haven’t heard anything back? Where does the problem lie? Is your resume not well written? Is it just due to the tight job market?
1. Your resume is the one thing you can control. It should indicate why you can excel at this job.
A poorly written resume is most often the reason why applicants do not get interviews. Do not just list the jobs you have done. Also indicate how you performed at those jobs. The candidates who are getting the most interviews list what they achieved at each job. You may also explain why you loved a particular job or task. Employers are not much interested in the jobs you have held, but they do want to know what you achieved there. Your resume needs to show them that.
2. Your cover letter must be interesting and focused.
If all your cover letter does is summarize the information in your resume, it's not helping at all. Write a cover letter which is specific to each job you apply for, rather than a generic one. A cover letter should add something new to your application about why you'd be great at the job; it should not just recite your employment history. If you add personality to your cover letters, you should start getting phone calls for interviews.
3. Ask senior colleagues to comment on your resume.
Friends, parents and school teachers may not be familiar with the veterinary industry, and may think your resume looks “fine”, but that is not good enough in today's tight market. Your resume needs to be great. I regularly hear job seekers say, "I've had my resume reviewed dozens of times, and everyone has told me it's fine." First, in a crowded job market, "fine" isn't enough; it needs to be great. You need people with significant hiring experience in your industry to give you feedback.
(One good test: Give them a resume that's full of duties rather than achievements and see what they say. If they tell you it's a good resume, you'll know that their advice is not useful)
4. You're applying for jobs for which your job history is not appropriate.
In this case, you need to explicitly demonstrate to employers why you'd be a great match. Perhaps you have only worked in small animal practice, but want to apply for a job in equine practice. If you have riding experience or other horse related experience, make it clear to the prospective employer.
If you get the interview, avoid these common mistakes:
1. Being unprepared.
Spend several days researching the job requirements, the practice and the employer(s). Be aware of all the requirements and skills listed in the job advert and how you are able to fulfil those. Consider possible questions and how you will respond to them. Think back on specific examples that demonstrate how you excelled at previous jobs.
2. Failing to research your interviewer.
A quick glance on LinkedIn might give you advance warning that your interviewer used to work with a previous boss who hated you. This way you won't be caught off guard if asked about it in the interview. Read the company website. it may give you information on the interviewer’s special skills or outside interests. Social websites and “googling” the interviewer’s name can also provide useful information.
3. Arriving late (or too early).
You might think that you're playing it safe by leaving for your interview a few minutes earlier than you need to. But hit a traffic accident and that buffer will fly out the window, which means you could end up being late. Give yourself plenty of extra time —meaning an hour or so—because it's nearly impossible to recover from being late for an interview. You can always kill the extra time in your car or a nearby coffee shop if you arrive early. Do not arrive at the actual interview location more than 5 minutes before the arranged time. Hanging around in reception for 30 minutes, puts pressure on your interviewer.
4. Wearing inappropriate clothing.
In most industries, you should wear a suit to a job interview. It doesn't matter if your interviewers are more casually dressed themselves; wearing a suit, as the candidate, is still an expected convention typically. In the veterinary industry, one may wear smart casual work appropriate clothing. Always look polished and groomed. Your clothes should fit you well, your hair should be neat and in place, your makeup professional and not heavy-handed. It's also important to feel comfortable in what you're wearing; you don't want to be constantly adjusting your neckline or fidgeting with your cuffs. Be aware of smells - be clean and free of body odour or bad breath, but do not go overboard with perfume or aftershave either! If you chew gum before the interview to freshen your breath, make sure to discard it appropriately before entering the building
5. Not being ready to talk about salary.
Job seekers are often uncomfortable with conversations about salary.This is a huge disservice to yourself. If salary does come up and you are not prepared, you're likely to end up with less money in your offer than if you knew what you could expect. Research the veterinary award. Ask friends working in the vicinity or in similar practices what they earn. This way you can field salary questions confidently.
Source http://www.askamanager.org/
Dr Joan Jordaan
Practioner in Residence
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