The Future of Recruitment

They say that it takes 21 days to make a habit and 90 days to make a lifestyle.

At the beginning of March 2020, a lot of companies started social distancing and started moving to virtual meetings, and a lot of our clients offered virtual interviews to job seekers who were not comfortable with face to face meetings.  It certainly was an interesting venture to embark on, and people around the world were suddenly trying to figure out how to host a meeting, what software was the most professional, and what etiquette to put in place to make the meetings and interviews as professional as possible. 

By the middle of April, most companies had passed the 21 days and the habit was firmly entrenched in the business practice.  More than being a way that they had to operate to merely function, virtual meetings have become a welcomed connection with colleagues, staff and clients.  Many festivals and conferences have gone virtual, and the exercise industry has exploded into the virtual meetings space.  In short, for most people, connecting on Zoom, Google Meet, Google Hangout, WhatsApp Video Calls, Teams, Skype or similar platforms, has become to equivalent to popping into the office next door, or catching up over a coffee to discuss an idea.

Whether or not you are going back to work in June, Social Distancing is here to stay for the rest of the year, to a greater or lesser extent, and as we leave 2020, virtual meetings will be a part of normal business.

What this means for recruitment, is that the majority of job interviews are going to be done via video interview in the future, especially as a first-round interview.  Some of the advantages to virtual interviews are that employers can now look at applicants out of the area; at applicants that could not get time off work to attend an interview; they are able to record interviews easily to refer back on; they are able to conference in more that one manager to interview, and it is far more efficient on time management and productivity. 

What this means to job seekers, is that if you want to position yourself ahead of other job seekers, you need to be proactive and get comfortable with virtual interviews.  RESOURCE recruitment has been doing virtual interviews throughout lockdown, assisting and coaching job seekers on this new platform, and the response has been unanimously positive and motivating for job seekers.

In January 2020, if you had tried to fax your CV or look in the Sunday newspaper for a job, you would not have been highly effective in securing interviews and employment.  That is how things were done 20 years ago.  It is time to evolve and embrace the new technology.  Create a professional online presence on platforms such as LinkedIn, load your CV onto job portals, and get comfortable with virtual interviews.  You will be pleasantly surprised at how this new change in the way things are done, benefits you.

“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”. — John F. Kennedy.

Why use our Recruitment Agency?

  1. We have a wealth of knowledge and experience.

RESOURCE recruitment was established in 2002, after the owner, Kirsten Glen, has been working in the industry for a number of years.  RESOURCE recruitment prides itself in having an exceptionally low staff turnover, which means that our consultants have developed long term relationships with our clients, and are seasoned professionals in the industry.  Our team interviews job seekers all day, every day, and consultants with our clients on their requirements and job specifications.  This experience translates into being able to often detect irregularities and discrepancies in applicants CV’s and reasons for leaving jobs, and often insights into the best person to fit our client’s vacancies.

 

  1. We save you time and make your recruitment efforts more efficient

There is often a misconception out there that the market is flooded with job seekers.  While this may be the case to a certain extent, it does not mean that the market is flooded with good applicants with the required skills, experience and work ethic that you are looking for.  With the volume of job seekers that we interview, and have interviewed over virtual interviews throughout lockdown, we have an extensive database of job seekers that have been reference checked and screened, saving you time and getting you straight to the interview stage!  We pride ourselves on always striving to get you CV’s within 24 hours of receiving your applicant requirements.

 

  1. We thoroughly background check all our applicants.

Having been in the industry for over 20 years, it still amazes me that recruitment agencies still market CV’s to their clients, without having interviewed the job seekers.  In a world inundated with fraud, it is essential to do extensive background checks- telephonically with previous employers, ITC and criminal checks, as well as ID, drivers and qualification checks where needed.  If you are wanting a mentally healthy employee, and one who hold the morals and values of your company heart, and will fit into the team, it also means checking their social media footprint and obtaining a clear character assessment.  We also offer psychometric tests, if this is something that you value.

 

  1. We are flexible

RESOURCE recruitment has been operating for almost 20 years, but we are still a small, personal business at heart.  This means that we cut the red tape, and meet our clients in the recruitment process, where they need us.  We are constantly innovating and adapting to the constantly changing marketplace; researching new jobs and industries, advertising on new platforms and trying new assessments and recruitment methods.  We also have a variety of flexible fee options, including our “Employ Now, Pay Later Option”  (DM us for more details)

 

  1. We are leaders in e-recruitment

We are aware that you need to be on every platform possible, to attract the best applicants for your job, so we have worked extensively over the past decade to build a huge following on Facebook (over 20 000 followers), LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram; in addition to our bulk mailer of over 35 000 active job seekers and a WhatsApp Broadcast list of 10 000, in addition to the traditional job portals that all employment agencies use.  We do not know of another local employment agency that comes close to competing with our e- footprint, which means when you let us submit CV’s for your vacancy, we submit different applicants, from a fresh new source.

 

  1. We are passionate about what we do!

Words cannot portray exactly how much we love our jobs and what we do.  We are passionate about helping both clients and job seekers and are very aware that we have the ability to change the lives of both, and take the whole process incredible personally.  We see ourselves as being partners in our client’s businesses and the careers of our candidates.  We are so excited about showing you what we can do!

 

 

 

If you are Applying for more than one Type of Job, Have More than one CV.

Looking for a employment is a sales job.  It’s all about marketing your CV to potential employers, looking for opportunities, building your brand.  Whether you fancy yourself as a sales rep or not- tough- now is the time to learn how to sell.

 

And the first thing that you have to do, is get your brochure (CV) professionally and appropriately drawn up!

 

If you decide that you are a secretary and would happily be a secretary, but would equally like the idea of getting into Events/ PRO or Sales Coordination position, because you have already done a bit of this, then you need to have a cv that sells you for each line of work.   Similarly, you may be a draughtsman who is keen to also try mechanical engineering or technical sales.

 

The first page of your CV will remain the same for all the jobs you apply for.  This will contain your personal information, contact details and ideally a professional photograph of you.

 

The second page will contain your computer skills and education.  Here you will list the skills most relevant to the job you are apply for first, and in more detail than the less relevant qualifications.  It’s often a matter of just switching the order around.  But the person reading your CV will assign the most importance to the skills they read first and that dominates the page.  For example- you are a draughtsman applying for a technical sales position as well.  When you apply for the draughtsman jobs, the Dale Carnegie course is not really that relevant and would be at the bottom of the skills section, if there at all.  But if you are applying for a technical sales job, putting this first, immediately gives the impression you have people skills.

 

The next section is the career history.  Always start with the most recent job first, and put dates and duties.  But the duties that are relevant to the position you are applying for, should appear first, and in more detail.  A good example is that you are an Office Administrator/ General Accounts Clerk.  You want to apply for a debtor’s position.  You need to take your debtors duties and put them as the first duties under that place of employment.  You may have just written “Debtors” as one of many points.  Now you need to elaborate.  What is the size of your debtor’s book and how many accounts do you handle?  Do you do invoicing and statements? Do you phone for money? Do you allocate payments off the bank statement? Do you deal with debtors queries?  If the first 5 points listed under duties are debtors, even though after that are a bunch of other unrelated duties, you have still made the impression that you are a debtor’s clerk!

 

Finally, if you don’t have a lot of skills and experience in the area that you are applying, but it is your passion and you know a lot about it through your hobbies and research, then add this in.  If at all possible, include it under the career section and give examples of your work.  Maybe you designed a website in your own time to market your wife’s business?  Or you do your husbands bookkeeping in the evenings?  Or you won a quilting competition and you want to get into the textile industry.

 

When I look at your CV, and you are applying for a particular position, your CV needs to give the overall impression that you are suitable for that position.

 

But… never lie and misrepresent yourself.  You can promote and emphasise why you are suitable, but don’t ever lie.  One lie will discredit your whole CV.

 

Finally, The Golden Rule:- “If it’s not on your CV, you never did it.”

Getting Feedback on your Applications

GETTING FEEDBACK ON YOUR APPLICATIONS

 

Not getting feedback when you apply for jobs can be so frustrating and demotivating!  But, instead of being powerless in the job seeking process, why not  be more proactive with your communication and take control of the feedback process as much as you can?  Here are a few tips that may help you take control of the situation:-

 

The ability to communicate effectively and professionally at all levels, is a skills that all businesses seek.  It’s one of the first things that is assessed in interviews. You can be a genius, but if you can’t communicate, no one will ever know!  How you communicate before you even get the interview, and during the interview and shortlisting process, can make all the difference at the end of the day!

Listening & Interpreting Information
Being a good listener is one of the best ways to be a good communicator. No one likes communicating with someone who only cares about putting in her two cents, and does not take the time to listen to the other person.

Sometimes, recruiters put specific requirements on how to apply for a vacancy.  There are many reasons why they will do this, but failure to follow the instructions, will ensure that you start the process on a negative note.  If the application asks for CV’s to be emailed, faxed or posted- use this means to deliver your application.  And if they ask for a covering letter or supporting documentation (or none at all) – listen to the instructions.  If you are not communicating in the way they want, they may reject your application, without you even knowing, and this is the reason you are not being contacted for interviews.

Keep it short and to the point!
Good communication means saying just enough – don’t say too little or talk too much. Try to convey your message in as few words as possible. Say what you want clearly and directly, whether you’re speaking to someone in person, on the phone, or via email. If you ramble on, your listener will either tune you out or will be unsure of exactly what you want. Think about what you want to say before you say it; this will help you to avoid talking excessively and/or confusing your audience. Often people talk themselves out of a job. Nerves kick in and they start talking and just can’t stop and end up telling way more than they should.  Keep it short and sweet, and remember this is a professional exchange, not a friendly chat!

Friendliness
People like happy, friendly people. The effort it takes to smile, be friendly and patient; will be the best investment you can make when looking for a job. I know that you will get frustrated and irritated with the process, everyone does, but avoid making a phone call when you are in a negative mood, and check the tone of your email.

Be aware that when you get negative, stand your ground and confront a potential employer or recruiter, you may make your point, but chances are you will not get the job.  Always be assertive in a constructive, positive manner!

 

Picking the Right Medium
An important communication skill is to simply know what form of communication to use.

Initially, always follow the medium that the advert asks for the application.  This shows that you respect their process and can follow instruction.  If it is not stated, always apply in writing, via email.  Attached your CV and anything that is requested, but at the initial stage, avoid attaching lots of supporting documents.  Try and make the recruiter’s job as simple as possible.

From this point, you need to get the balance right- when it is appropriate to continue on email, phone or maybe even pop in to see the recruiter.  Too many phone calls or an unsolicited visit, may be inappropriate, but there is a lot to be said for picking up the phone.  (But never let anyone else phone on your behalf!!)

Feedback
And the most important bit of advice from this newsletter- ASK FOR FEEDBACK! As demotivating as it may be, it is a reality that you are one of hundreds of people applying for a position, and there is often just one person going through the CV’s and the process. If you want feedback you need to pick up the phone or send an email.  Not only will this give you constructive feedback on where your CV or skills may be lacking, but it is an opportunity to build relationships with the recruiter.  Knowledge is power, and knowing why you have not been short listed, can be extremely motivating (as strange as that may seem!).  If you have not passed the email stage of applying, then forward your original application, and ask for feedback (don’t make the recruiter go looking for your application).  If you have been in for a personal interview, then pick up the phone and start building relationships.

Relationships are a two way street, so don’t apply for a job and then wait to get a phone call.  Be proactive, and drive the process!  Start interacting with your recruiter, and I promise, you will be at the top of their minds next time a job comes in, and they will start communicating back!

 

Tips for Looking for a Job Online

10 TIPS TO LOOKING FOR JOBS ONLINE

 

Along with all things, how we look for jobs is changing rapidly every year, and in just the last 10-15 years the recruitment industry has moved almost completely from advertising in newspapers and receiving paper (fax, posted or delivered CV’s), to advertising electronically and receiving digital CV’s either via email or uploaded onto websites.  The industry is changing so rapidly, that a lot of schools have no even started teaching school leavers about job portals, and if you are new to the job market after being away for a while, you may find it quite daunting!

Hopefully, these tips will help you navigate looking for a job on line a little easier.

  1. Be careful who you ask for advice

Everyone is an expert!  Everyone likes to tell you what you are doing wrong, and what you can change (even if it does not need to be changed).  You can ask parents and grandparents for assistance and guidance in your education, maybe dealing with your boss and how to resign.  But when it comes to preparing a CV or posting your applications online, unless they currently are responsible for recruiting staff, they may not be the experts to turn to.

  1. Use reputable websites or job portals

There are a lot of job portals out there that take adverts off other websites, and place it on their websites to drive clicks/ traffic to their websites.  These are not the websites that you want to be visiting because often the jobs you are viewing are outdated or invalid.  You want to be using websites where the advertiser placed the job themselves, has the correct email address for responses and a deadline for the advert.  RESOURCE recruitment always keeps their jobs updated at https://2r.co.za/category/vacancies/ .  Other good websites to keep an eye on are Pnet, Careers24, Career Junction, IOL and Gumtree.

  1. Make sure the KEY WORDS are in your CV.

When I search for a suitable applicant among CV’s, I use “Key Words” to find applicants with the required skills.  This means that if those skills (key words) are not on your CV, you never did it (even if you did), and you won’t be short listed.  Keywords would be, depending on the job requirements, things like- Pastel, Syspro, reconciliation, VAT, balance sheet reconciliations, statutory returns, payroll and Forex for a bookkeeping position; or litigation, conveyancing, Dictaphone typing, minute taking and paralegal for a legal secretary position.  Think about what job or industry you are wanting to get into, and then make sure these words appear on your CV

  1. Avoid abbreviations

Don’t assume that the person reading your CV will know your industry abbreviations and lingo.

  1. Fill out the registration form in full

I know that it is time consuming to do this when it is all on your CV, and you have probably filled out a hundred forms similar to do this before, but it is important.  Remember, “If it’s not on your CV you never did it”, so “If it’s not on the application form, you also never did it!”  (If the company then sends you another application form to fill out, you need to complete this form too.)  Recruiters are going through literally hundreds of applicants, 80% of which are totally unsuitable, and these application forms from the companies are created to streamline the short listing process.

  1. Keep your CV Updated

This is normally the main reason that the most suitable applicants are NOT short listed.  Their CV is not updated to show their latest experience; that they now live in the specified area; that they now have a car; that they have completed a qualification; or that they are available immediately.

  1. Put your email address on your CV

It stands to reason that if you are applying for a job online, you should have your email address on your CV in addition to your phone numbers.  And don’t forget to check that email address daily!  If your CV is forwarded to someone else in the company, saved or printed- it may be separated from your original email.  (And we should not have to say it- but remember your phone number too!)

  1. Social Media Accounts

If you are applying online, chances are that the recruiter will google you, or more accurately- Facebook- stalk you!  If you have not put your privacy settings on your social media accounts, you are inviting them into your personal lives.  Do you want to be judged on your political views and what you did last Saturday night; or that you are home from work again with a sick baby; or that all your posts are made during business hours?

LinkedIn is huge internationally, but it seems to be gaining popularity now in South Africa.  This is the “professional” version of Face Book.  This is the face you present to future employers and network.

  1. Get your CV out there

Looking for a job is a “stats game”.  The more people who have your CV, the sooner you will find something.  The more portals your CV is on, the more companies will view your CV.  The quicker you reply to emails requesting information or interviews, the more interviews you will attend.

  1. Keep your Account Current

The final tip is to keep your profile current on the portal.  Each month, go in and edit something.  It’s not important what you edit.  When I am searching for applicants, those that were active most recently will appear first, and those that were last active six months ago, I probably wont look at because, chances are, they have found something.  The job portal does not show when you registered, it shows when you were last active.

 

 

 

Let’s Chat

The world is changing and so is the way we do business.  2020 has seen businesses globally, from big to small, being given the “virtual shove” into changing the way that they do things- working remotely and communicating electronically.

 

Since the day I opened RESOURCE recruitment almost 20 years ago, we have prided ourselves on being leaders in e- recruitment. With a Facebook Following of over 20 000 job seekers, almost 10 000 connections on LinkedIn and a Bulk Mailer of 35000 active job seekers (in addition to the regular online portals most employment agencies use), we have a very big digital footprint.  All that being said, I have always been adamant (and still am) that we need to maintain the human connection and personally meet our clients and candidates, get to know their businesses and them as people, and not be tempted into communicating exclusively electronically.

But, 2020 has had different ideas for me, and I am being forced to grow and evolve and embrace video meetings like Skype and WhatsApp Video Calls.

Here are some tips that I have researched that will help you prepare and ace your next video job interview!

  1. Dress to impress
    It is so tempting to not dress up for your interview, if you are sitting at home in casual wear.  There are two reasons why you should dress to impress.  The most important is the way that it makes you feel when you power dress in a smart outfit, versus the t-shirt you were going to wear.  The second is that research shows that on video job interviews, the details are amplified.  The person on the other side of the camera is more likely to notice your makeup, earrings and nail polish; than a person would face to face.  I have also read that shades of blue, black and white are the best colours to wear, because red, orange, yellow does not always appear good to other screens.

 

  1. Avoid interruptions

Most important- PICK A QUIET SPOT WITHOUT INTERRUPTIONS.  Tell people that you are having a video meeting and that you cannot be interrupted.  If you can, lock the door so that no one walks in mid-meeting.  Personally, when I have tried to have a conversation with someone and there is a child screaming, or what feels like a party going on in their background, and I am battling to hear them, I get irritated at the lack of respect and professionalism that they are showing.  I can also only imagine how distracted they are feeling.

 

  1. Prepare your surroundings
    In a traditional interview, you are going to a company, or inviting them into your meeting room.  But on video interviews, you may be inviting them into your home.  Make sure that your backdrop is neat, uncluttered and does not reveal too much about you personally.  Be authentic.  I once had someone send me a video interview with some motivational books strategically placed on their desk to impress.  When I asked about their opinions on them, it was clear they had never even read them!

 

  1. Close other programs on your computer.
    Getting notifications during your interview is distracting and unprofessional. Before your interview, make sure all other windows on your computer are closed (especially if they make a noise).

 

  1. Look at the camera, not the screen.
    It is very tempting to watch yourself or your interviewer during a video session but looking directly at the video camera is the only way to maintain direct eye contact with your interviewer.

 

  1. Use notes, but not too many
    Don’t be afraid to help yourself with post-it notes or a copy of your resume handy when you interview. A benefit of having a video interview is that you can have a cheat sheet in front of you so that you don’t have to memorize everything and can keep your focus. However, avoid having scripts written out and being so concerned about the notes that you disrupt the flow and human connection of the interview by awkward pauses and papers flapping.

 

  1. Keep your profile professional.
    Unlike face-to-face interviews where your first impression is made by arriving well-presented and smiling as you shake someone’s hand, when you do a video interview it is different. The first impression is your profile, your username and your picture and before the call even clicks through you have made an impression. If your profile is not professional- create a new one.

 

  1. Watch your body language.
    Sit up straight, but keep your shoulders relaxed.  Chose a desk chair over a comfy couch.  Try not to fuss with your hair or fiddle with things on your desk.

 

  1. Practise makes perfect.
    The job interview itself or meeting is not the time to test the audio settings and internet connection and if your Skype is working.  Do that beforehand.  Video call some friends and ask them how you look, what the background looks like, and how they can hear you.  Get comfortable with seeing yourself as you talk to someone, and not getting distracted by that image, while you make a connection.

 

  1. Stay connected and engaged
    It’s easy to lose the connection with the person on the other side of the screen when you are talking too much, or not to notice when their interest has been lost.  Try have a two-sided conversation, rather than launch into long speeches.

 

This is new to us too, so we would love to hear any hint, tips and hacks you may have for video interviews or any experiences that you would like to share.

CV Fraud Punishable by Law

In August 2019 an Amendment to the National Qualifications Framework Act was gazetted, which will have a direct impact on job seekers and employers.  Among other things, the act makes direct mention of job applicants and employees misrepresenting themselves on their CV’s and job applications, and such misrepresentation may be punishable by fine and/ or imprisonment.

 

Below is a summary of what the amendment says with regards to this.  If you would like a copy of the amendment, please feel free to email us or visit the department of labours website (www.labour.gov.za)

 

A person will be deemed guilty of an offense if:-

  • A person makes or causes to be made a false entry in the national learners’ records database; is a party to the falsification of; or with a fraudulent purpose, knowingly provided false or misleading.
  • A person or training provider is guilty of an offence if they claim to be offering a qualification or part qualification registered on the NQF whereas that qualification or part qualification is not so registered.
  • A person is guilty of an offence, if they falsely or fraudulently claims to be holding a qualification or part-qualification registered on the NQF or awarded by an education institution or obtained from a lawfully recognised foreign institution.
  • Any person or training institution is guilty of an offence if it falsely claims to be registered and accredited as an education institution.

If a person or training institution is convicted of any offence under this Act, the court that imposes the sentence shall consider as an aggravating factor the fact that the offence was—

  • committed with the intent to gain financially, or to receive any favour, benefit, reward, compensation or any other advantage; or
  • gained financially, or received any favour, benefit, reward, compensation or any other advantage.

Any person convicted of an offence in terms of this Act, is liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years, or to both fine and such imprisonment.

The National Minimum Wage Act

 

The National Minimum Wage Act

As of January 2019, the first ever National Minimum Wage Act came into effect, and while most employers have embraced this initiative, we thought that we would give you a summary to re-cap.

 

What is the rate?

The legislation stipulates a minimum national rate of R20 per hour, or R3 500 per month, depending on the number of hours worked.

The R20 an hour rate will be phased in slowly in the agriculture and domestic work sectors, with workers earning R18 and R15 per hour respectively.  Employees who are on volunteer programs or learnerships are exempt from the act.

This means

DAILY MINIMUM WAGE         R20 x 8 hours = R160  or R20 x 9 hours = R180

WEEKLY MINIMUM WAGE     R20 x 40 hours = R800 or R20 x 45 hours = R900

MONTHLY MINIMUM WAGE R800 x 4.333 = R3 466.40 or R900 x 4.333 = R3 899.70

 

Employees are also entitled to be paid for a minimum of 4 hours, even if they work fewer.

Allowances that make an employee able to work such as tools; equipment; transportation and accommodation) will have these allocations included when calculating their wage; as will bonuses, incentives, tips and gifts be excluded from the minimum wage.

No employee may make deductions in excess of 25% of the employee’s remuneration.

 

When did it become law?

 The National Minimum Wage will be applicable and enforced as from 1 January 2019

 

What happens if you do not pay the minimum wage of R20.00 an hour?

The minimum wage is law, so if you do not pay it, your staff can report you to the department of labour or the CCMA.  Even if your staff agree to work for less, or to get paid for fewer hours than four hours, they are still legally entitled to it, as it falls under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.

The Act does allow for an employer to make an application to be exempt from paying the minimum wage, for not longer than one year.

 

When will the Minimum Wage Increase?

The Act states that the minimum wage must be reviewed after 18 months and increases in two years.  The review will specifically take into account inflation, productivity, the effect on employment and businesses ability to cope with the increase in wage expenses.

 

If you would like a copy of the National Minimum Wage Act, you can obtain one from the Department of Labour’s Website.  (http://www.labour.gov.za/DOL/legislation/acts/national-minimum-wage/national-minimum-wage)

What do you want to Become?

“Now I think it’s one of the most unless questions an adult can ask a child-What do you want to become when you grow up? As if growing up is finite. As if at some point you 
become something and that’s the end.”
Michelle Obama, Becoming

 

I interview 18-25 years olds all the time, and few know where they fit in this world.  Many feel ashamed and are apologetic when they cannot tell us what job they want.  For their whole schooling they have been told what to do, when to do it and how to do it; and then suddenly they are supposed to know what to do with the rest of their lives.  Few adults share with them that they are not in the fields today, that they thought they would be in when they entered the job market.  To make matters worse, the façade their peers present on social media is that they have it all figured out already.  The pressure to go out there, find a career and make their parents proud, and still fit into your new world, is unfair and cruel.

 

You are not expected to know what you want to do with the rest of your life TODAY!

 

When I was 20, I was told the careers that would exist in 20 years’ time, had not even been thought of.  Little did I know the rapid developments that would take place due to the growth in technology.

*Cell phones as we know when were not freely available 25 years ago.

*Google was founded 20 years ago, in 1998.

*WhatsApp was only founded 10 years ago in 2009.

(Take a moment to think about how different your job would be without Google and a cell phone!)

 

Twenty years ago no one was recruiting for e-Marketing Managers, SEO Specialists, Bloggers, Communication Listeners, Big Data Specialists, Data Miners,  Cloud Engineers, etc.  Management was all about how to manage the “millennial”, and now they are the “leaders”!

 

The talk now is all about A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) and how computers and robots will start taking our jobs!  And again, its hard to get out minds around it, but in some form or another, it’s happening.  Generation Z are entering their working world, with their own set of management issues, and changing the way we advertise and run our businesses.  Fewer Generation Z ( born after 1995) will go into formal tertiary education, when they can learn via correspondence and teach themselves off YouTube, which will have a further impact on the expectations of employers.

 

And in the middle of all this uncertainty and change, school leavers and graduates are expected to enter the working world and be a success… yet we don’t tell them we are not 100% sure what that looks like!

 

So, as a Recruitment Manager, what advice do I give these 18-25 year olds entering the working world?

 

RESOURCE recruitment is passionate about working with young adults- mentoring and grooming them, supporting them, and giving them a few reality checks from time to time, as well!

 

The first thing that we do in the interview, is break the myth that they need to know the “job title” that they are applying for.  Gen Z are the generation best equipped to learn and grow on the job, with their ability to multitask and learn online.  What companies are looking for today, are people who want to work; are bright and proactive; who go the extra mile.  The old saying “Employ for Attitude, Train for Skill” has never been more applicable.

 

But that does not answer the questions of what job you should be applying for.  This is where those job seekers that have worked part time; had hobbies they were passionate about; or who got involved in extracurricular activities at school/ tertiary education, will have an advantage.  Get a pen and paper and make a list about what you liked and disliked (write it down!), where you excelled and where you battled.  Think of times you shone and were praised, and why.  Dealing with customer service, client relationships and complaints is basically the same as a waitress or in a trainee sales coordination role.  Taking photos of sports at school/ fashion, and managing a social media page, is not vastly different from doing the same for an events company.  Loving studying, making study notes, making your own notes from lectures (that your friends all asked for copies of), shows an organized and systematic mind that will be great in an administration role.

 

Above all things, be open to all opportunities.  If you think that it may interest you, apply for the job.  If you are offered an interview, go for it.  It’s an opportunity to learn about different jobs.  And if you are offered the job, and it ticks 75% of the boxes, go for it!  Give it all you have, and give it at least 3-6 months.

 

Your first few jobs will probably not be glamorous or exciting.  They are your first jobs after all.  What will make them glamorous and exciting, is YOU.  Volunteer to get involved in projects, assist where you see gaps, ask questions and keep positive, take pride in your work.  One of the biggest weaknesses of Gen Z’s is their lack of focus (due to living in such a fast paced, technology driven world), which often looks like laziness or lack of work ethic.  So put your phone away, literally put a bounce in your step and a smile on your face, and know that you still have a lot of learn, and all good things take time.

 

Good luck, and know that this is just the start of your career, not the end.  No one has any idea what the end looks like.  The only thing that you have to have figured out today, is your work ethic and attitude!  If you take the first step forward, life has a way of taking you where you need to be.  If you sit at home waiting for life to happen, or expect friends and family to find your a job, you won’t go anywhere fast!

 

15 Points to Consider when Compiling your CV.

  1. What will your CV look like when printed in black and white? Will it still be eye catching and easy to read?  Few companies will go to the cost of printing it in colour when reviewing it.
  2. If you are applying for jobs on line or via email- is your email address on your CV? If you are applying from Gumtree, Indeed and various other platforms, your application will not come from your personal email address, but from the portal address, so how will they be able to reply?
  3. If the best you can do is send an outdated, scribbled on, scanned CV, then you need to ask yourself: ”Am I serious about looking for a job?” Your CV is your first impression, and an indication of the best work you can produce, and the pride you take in your work.
  4. Don’t put generic comments in your covering email, such as “Application for before mentioned position” and then don’t mention what position it is. Or say “I have always wanted to work for your company” and send it to an employment agency, for a job with their clients.  It makes you application insincere from the outset.
  5. Make sure that your residential area is always up to date. One of the biggest reasons you will not be short listed, is if your CV indicates you live too far from the position (even if you have since relocated).
  6. Two page CV’s were fashionable in the days of fax machines. Today, you are emailing, and companies are “searching” your CV for key words.  If the key words are not there, you are not going to be short listed.  A 3-5 page CV is more than acceptable.
  7. Don’t waste one of your 3-5 pages on a cover page, with just your name typed on it- save this for when you deliver a printed copy.
  8. Don’t get so creative with the layout, that your skills and experience are missing or hard to find.
  9. If you want to make it personal, add a photo, not clipart. (But don’t take a selfie in a public bathroom or with your cycling helmet on!)
  10. Keep it to the point and factual. Save the essays and long stories for the interview.
  11. Start with your most recent job first.
  12. Make sure that you put dates worked at previous companies on your CV
  13. If you don’t know what to say your reason for leaving is, leave it off. Putting “Personal issues”, “Horrible work environment”, “Company involved in unethical business practice”, “Dismissed” or “Discrimination”- says more about how fussy, difficult, disloyal and potentially hard to manage you potentially are, than anything about the company.  Save it for the interview when you have a change to explain yourself and put it in context.
  14. Make sure you list all your computer skills on your CV.
  15. The Golden Rule when drawing up a CV- “If it’s not on your CV, you never did it!!”