MatcHub Webinar: Tips and Tricks to get Hired (Part 1)
By MatcHub
Read Part 2 here.
Last Wednesday, we had the privilege of having a panel of HR professionals to share with us some tips and tricks to get hired. They come from varying industries and backgrounds, having worked with MNCs. They brought their experience to the table as they shared insights about the recruitment process and the key characteristics that they look out for in a candidate.
In case you were wondering how to make yourself stand out in today’s job market, here are some of the main pointers that you should take note of when applying for a job:
- List the impactful work that you have done
Richa van der Dirani from Transferwise shared that impactful work helps you stand out from the crowd. In order to show how you can contribute as a potential hire, you should quantify your contributions, and show the impact of your contributions through numbers and data. Show the recruiters how you were able to solve the problems at work with the solutions and strategies you have devised. Quantifying your work will show the recruiter the extent of your contributions to your previous working experiences.
- Adapt to Change
Given the ever-changing nature of the job market, the skills needed in today’s workforce are bound to change. Richa shared that in order to get yourself noticed, we have to adapt to the changing times by taking on virtual global internships. Passion projects and open source projects are a great way to start as well. Taking on these projects will give you a competitive advantage from the rest of the candidates as you pick up additional skillsets that the other candidates might not have. Doing these initiatives gives you extra points in helping yourself get noticed. Learn what you can do in your free time here!
- Be proactive
Take initiative! Put in effort in your job application to show your keen interest in the job. Be targeted in your job search and show the organisations that you are applying to that you are an asset that creates value for them. A proactive attitude will create a positive perception of yourself. Being proactive brings plus points as it shows your desire to work with them.
- The power of Linkedin
Don’t underestimate what Linkedin can do for you in your job search. Fiona Hon shared about the usefulness of Linkedin as a tool to create your competitive advantage in the job market. If you are not on Linkedin yet, create an account! List your achievements, highlight your volunteering experiences, and connect with recruiters that are partnering with industries that you wish to work in. Reach out to recruiters of companies that you wish to work in and build relationships with them. LinkedIn is a great platform for you to craft your narrative and show recruiters how able you are. Instead of relentlessly applying to countless job applications, having a strong Linkedin profile will attract recruiters to notice you.
If a man is called to be a streetsweeper,
he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted,
or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry.
He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts
of heaven and earth will pause to say,
here lived a great streetsweeper who did his job well.
—Martin Luther King
We also delved into the specifics where some of the key concerns of students were being addressed when it comes to getting hired. Here are some key questions that were being addressed at the webinar:
Q: If we approach a person on LinkedIn to ask for their advice on company culture and a position’s job scope etc., how do we naturally transit to sincerely asking for a referral?
A: It depends very much on who you connect to. The hiring manager makes the ultimate decisions. If you want to connect to people strategically on Linkedin, you should approach the hiring manager. First make the move by leaving a comment on their posts to garner their attention before sending a message to indicate interest on working for their company.
Q: How can I prepare for an interview if I don’t have sufficient experience for the role they are applying for?
A: Students have the perception that relevant experiences have to be an apple-for-apple match. From the hiring manager’s perspective, we recognise transferable experiences which could be obtained from your co-curricular activities. It is one of the ways to show your transferable experiences. If you look at the rationale of why hiring managers are looking at transferable experiences, we are looking at the validated previous experiences that you have done it before. If you dissect these experiences, it boils down to whether you have the competencies to perform at the job. School projects could be a very good example. Also, competencies can be developed so do not worry about the experience factor.
Q: How should we better negotiate for our salary packages during interviews?
A: Companies do have an in-house on boarding salary packages that is pegged for the undergraduates. Unfortunately, for companies like EY, they are unable to deviate from that salary package. Salary is naturally one of the top considerations for a fresh graduate. More than salary, think about what are some of the factors that motivates you. For some, work culture is very important to them. Do a holistic evaluation of what really matters to you.
We hope you took a thing or two away from the webinar! Stay tuned for more content as we share more about the actionable steps you can take to stand out from the rest.
Read Part 2 here.
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