How do I get the job I want?

Over the course of more than 10 years, I managed a computer gaming firm. I went through hundreds of applicants' resumes and conducted thousands of interviews. Now, I serve as the writer-in-chief at Articulate Marketing, a business that specializes in technology marketing. When we post an ad for a new position, we often get hundreds of applicants for the job.

That first-hand experience as a recruiter and as the owner of a firm served as the basis for this piece. In these trying economic times, I really hope that this article will assist readers in increasing their chances of landing a solid job. Good luck!

1. Locate an appropriate place of employment

Complete your assignments. Create a list of firms you would want to work with by collecting names from the internet and other trade publications. On Best Companies Guide, you will be able to get feedback from current workers in complete anonymity.

Discuss the matter with your network. Finding individuals who already work for the company you want to work for may be accomplished with the use of social networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and others. Reach out to others and inquire for information, guidance, and assistance.

Don't sit around and wait for openings. Although the employment sections of local newspapers and industry publications could be an excellent source of openings or candidates for your short list, personal contact is still the best way to get the finest opportunities and the greatest leads. In 1991, I published an advertisement in the Guardian, and I received more than 500 responses. For one work. If it comes from an existing worker, I'm far more inclined to take their advice into consideration.

What exactly do you need? Create your own job description, as well as your own criteria for the ideal company you would want to work for. What are your plans moving forward? What type of business is it, exactly? What is its dimensions?

Imagine a rifle rather than a shotgun. It is more effective to concentrate on a small number of excellent matches rather than sending an agency hundreds of poorly duplicated CVs.

Agencies. Using a recruitment agency is one of the most efficient ways to get your resume in front of a large number of potential employers. When I was younger, there were no such things as internet recruiters like Monster.com. The majority of agencies just sent their CVs to every firm they had on file. My guess is that internet businesses are just more effective at performing the same job in a shorter amount of time. Not good.

Take responsibility. It is OK, in my opinion, to make use of agencies; nevertheless, given that it is your work, you are required to be actively involved in the process. Don't allow someone else determine what's best for you. Especially in situations when the only thing driving them is a commission.

2. Write a great cover letter

Write a personal letter. Your application will be given more attention to detail if you include a cover letter. Maintain brevity while retaining detail. A cover letter provided me with an excellent opportunity to assess the applicant's level of interest in the position as well as determine whether or not they had any prior knowledge of my business. It was a delightful surprise whenever I came into someone who had mentioned playing one of our games or had visited our website.

Don't make errors. According to the findings of a study conducted by Hertfordshire University, 77 percent of businesspeople are turned off by misspelled words. Employ the use of a spell checker. Request that it be proofread by someone you trust. You may have it checked for you by a proofreader that you hire via Elance.com.

Don't be a bozo. On occasion, I would get very embarrassing responses that destroyed a candidate's prospects. A number of people identified the incorrect firm. It was fairly usual for people to spell my name incorrectly. One of them had the statement "I'm searching for a job in the insurance sector," which has since become famous. (Trying to get a career in the video game industry!) Many of them were humorous or bizarre, such as saying things like, "This job is totally up my street." Hell, no! It's just next door," or my personal favorite: "I'm not as fit as my dog, but I'm good at working both in a group and by myself."

Professional presentation. Be careful not to overcomplicate the design. Maintain an air of professionalism and restraint. The ideal length for a cover letter is around half a page, and it should be neatly written, have correct grammar, and be spelled correctly. It is considered to be good manners to hand write the greeting ("Dear Mr. Manager") and the sign-off ("Yours truly") of a business letter. Make sure you are applying to the right person, and call them if necessary, to ensure that you have their name, title, and address written accurately at the top of the page. The book "Debrett's A-Z of Modern Manners" offers useful guidance on topics such as correct letter writing and other more traditional qualities.

Create a version that can be sent by email. When compared to letters, emails should be concise and to the point. Make use of declarative statements that are brief. Don't waffle. However, you should still be sure to add the recipient's name and anything that makes it more personal.

Put it on directly. Keep in mind that agencies often fax CVs and do not include cover letters with applications; thus, submitting a direct application together with an impressive cover letter might make you seem to be a more qualified applicant merely due to your improved presentation. Even if you are certain that you will be hired for any position for which you apply, it is still important to create a positive first impression wherever possible. This will assist your case when negotiating a wage as well as people's impressions of you after you begin working there.

3. Write an attractive resumé/CV

Seek for sound guidance. Ask your buddies. Inquire with the HR department of your present workplace, but only if they are aware that you will soon be departing! Find mentors. Read some tips on the internet.

Presentation in a professional manner. In the past, programmers would submit CVs that were littered with spelling and grammatical errors. This is not a good indicator for someone who works in a field that values attention to detail. The CVs of graphic designers used to appear like they had been DTP'd by a child of five years old or younger. Crazy. In the same vein as the cover letter, the curriculum vitae (CV) should be tidy, grammatically correct, and spelt correctly.

Be brief. It is not necessary to utilize more than one page for a curriculum vitae (CV) unless you have had a very distinguished career; employers seldom look at the second page of a CV.

Seek the advice of another person. It is in your best interest to have a trustworthy companion go through your curriculum vitae so that you may avoid making statements that convey the opposite of what you intended them to convey. One applicant who said something along these lines, "I have a close and loving connection with both of my sisters," is a perfect illustration of this phenomenon.

Don't try to seem intimidating or glib. People don't always have the same sense of humor or interests, so it's best to play it straight. For instance, you shouldn't upload a photo of yourself dressed up as Captain Kirk in your profile image. In one instance, I came across the following statement: "I am interested in the success of justice." There were a few applicants who made the allegation that they had previously worked for Mossad, MI5, or MI6. Believe me when I say that the candidates in issue did not work for the aforementioned organizations in any capacity. In general, you should make an effort not to amuse, terrify, or otherwise mislead the potential employers you are interviewing with.

Don't exaggerate. Among the more outlandish claims that I have come across are "working on top secret research for NASA," "testing the elasticity of incontinence knickers," and a candidate who claimed to have written an entire hit game for a well-known developer on their own during a summer internship that lasted only two months. Another individual said, "In addition to winning the global mathematics championship in Hungary in 1993, I am also a world-class champion on the Rubics Cube."

Don't job-hop. Candidates who seemed to be "job-hopping" were usually met with extreme suspicion on my part. It doesn't seem good when you've had more than a handful of jobs in the last 12–18 months. It suggests that there is a significant issue with either their job or their attitude. The worst case I've encountered was someone who worked eight different jobs in a span of less than seven years. It goes without saying that we did not end up hiring him. If you have a lengthy list of previous employment on your resume, you should have a very good explanation for this.

Make judicious use of the references. When it comes to choosing referees, opinions are all over the place. In most cases, we didn't check an applicant's references until after we made an offer but before they began the job. The primary reason for this was that we wanted to confirm that the individual was who they claimed to be. An employer always has the option to inquire for references if they are desired. Due to the fact that the video game business is quite compact, we often contact a candidate's former place of employment in an informal setting if we have any reservations about giving them an offer. A negative reputation may follow you around like a shadow, and sometimes I would get phone calls from other people telling me not to hire certain individuals. If you do provide references, it is preferable to have them come from people who can claim some sort of independent judgment, such as previous employers, tutors, or lawyers, rather than "my mother," as one unfortunate candidate offered. If you do provide references, it is preferable to have them come from people who can claim some sort of independent judgment.

Get a referral for yourself. A reference on a resume and a person who actively supports your cause are two very different things and should not be confused with one another. If you can locate a mentor, rabbi, or advocate who can put you in contact with the appropriate individuals, you should take advantage of this opportunity. And show a great deal of gratitude.

Clarify your name. If you were blessed with a name that is easy to remember but difficult to speak, as I was, it is a good idea to include how to pronounce it anywhere in your curriculum vitae or cover letter. In addition, it is good to emphasize your last name if it isn't immediately obvious which name is your first name and which is your surname.

Do not make up anything that we are able to verify. I've heard incredible tales of people winning the Olympics, the Rubik's Cube championships, writing popular games in only a weekend, and having improbable job titles at the firms where my pals work. "Never hide anything that the press can uncover for themselves," Sir Humphrey Appleby said in the Yes, Minister episode "Never conceal anything that the press can discover for themselves."

Make sure that your application is correct before you submit it in. I looked through a lot of applications, and many of them included the names of potential rivals in the covering letter. A failed mail merge is evidence that you are not paying sufficient attention to detail.

Don't hit your employer in the face if you want to keep your job. To my good fortune, I was spared from experiencing this. However, in most cases, threats of legal action, acts of sabotage, or acts of violence made by leaving workers are likely to result in references that are less than favorable.

4. Attempt to get an interview, even if there are no open positions

If you've done your homework, you should now have a list of firms and people inside those companies that you want to approach. You may send them your resume in an unsolicited mass email, but there is another way: the 15-minute conversation followed by an introduction email. This sales strategy was adapted from one described by Mike Southron and Chris West in their book "Sales on a Beermat."

Your goal here is to get a face-to-face meeting with a member of the staff of the organization you have selected as your focus. Even though it's not a job interview, it's a great way to prepare for one. Keep in mind that the greatest jobs are the ones that aren't advertised, and the best method to acquire such positions is to build personal connections with the people who work there.

Therefore, this is what you should do:

Find the opportunity that best suits you. If you want to find a good hook for your email, monitor the news about the company you're targeting using Google News or another source.

Find the appropriate individual. Your best bet is to ask someone already in your network for a reference or an introduction to someone who works for the firm you want to work for.

Send an email to introduce yourself. Concise and delectable. Enjoyed reading this? Subject: Reference provided by Ann Other Sincerely, Mr. Smith, There is some positive news about the purchase of Megacorp. I'm going to think that this indicates you'll need more programmers at SuperSizers. Ann encouraged that I get in touch with you since I have been employed as a programmer at WidgetCo., and I am seeking for a new challenge at this point in my career. Ann is more than willing to serve as a reference for me and can be reached at Ann.Other@Megacorp.com. I'd want to ask for your guidance on how I may become a member of the team at SuperSizers, therefore I'd like to set up a brief meeting with you so that I can learn a little bit more about the company and get your input. Do you happen to have fifteen minutes to spare some time next week? Best wishes, John Doe

Make a good impression, and don't be afraid to ask for assistance. And then depart when the stipulated amount of time has passed. This is not an interview for a job. Find a buddy who works for the business you want to work for, make an effort to learn more about the organization, and demonstrate that you have some initiative. If you are successful, you will have the assistance of a knowledgeable insider. This has got to be a better use of time than sending the same CV to a hundred different firms and hoping one of them bites.

5. Deliver an outstanding performance in the interview

When I worked for a gaming firm in the past, we often conducted many rounds of interviews for each position. The first step would be a brief interview to see whether or not you would be a good match for the team and to validate your identity against the information shown on your CV (in part through a programming test and discussion or portfolio review).

A second interview would be a more in-depth discussion on certain topics. It would concentrate on determining if you are qualified for a certain project or job, and you would have the opportunity to meet potential members of the team.

It was important to me to get to know the people we were thinking about making a job offer to, and having a final interview with senior management was a good sign that you were getting close to making the cut. The whole procedure may take two to three weeks, and in certain cases even longer if there were revisions to the project's original timeline.

Dress in an understated manner. One of the candidates sent a photograph of herself dressed in full Star Trek garb. Although I am a supporter, I can't use that word on my application since it sounds strange. Another person who applied for the position of graphic designer showed up wearing a cloak, a hat, and a cane (actually, I think we hired him). We didn't anticipate that people would get all dolled up for an interview, but it certainly doesn't hurt to make an effort to look presentable. A pair of neatly pressed jeans and a crisp button-down shirt are going to make a better impression than a wrinkled, musty, and out-of-date suit that doesn't fit anymore. Obviously, the appropriate attire for one profession may look quite different from another. If you are unsure, it is best to phone ahead and double check. By default, a well-tailored suit with a tie will be appropriate for practically all types of interviews.

Please refrain from bringing your mother with you to the interview. This was done by one of the candidates. We decided not to work with him.

Be punctual. Make sure you allow yourself a sufficient amount of time to arrive to the interview.

Prepare. Make sure to call ahead and inquire what all could be required of you. For example, we often had programmers demonstrate their proficiency in C programming. Those who were aware of this information in advance would have a significant edge. In contrast, there was one applicant who, despite having it on her CV, questioned "what's C?".

Be friendly (but not unctuous). Maintain a positive attitude and a friendly demeanor, but avoid being overbearing or sycophantic. Pay attention, but don't act like you're in the boardroom on The Apprentice while you're in an interview.

Always be sure to shake hands. In the event that nervousness cause you to have sweaty palms, wipe your hands discretely on your clothing just before the handshake is necessary. There is no experience more humiliating than shaking hands with a wet fish.

Hygiene matters. Candidates who did not take care of their basic hygiene needs, such as taking a shower, brushing their teeth, or wearing clean clothing, made a very poor impression on me and the other members of my team. Sharing a space with such individuals is not a pleasant experience.

Be courteous. Criticizing prior employers is another unacceptable practice. Although it's enjoyable to hear, it's not hard to see somebody spreading the same rumors about you if they had the chance.

Compose a note of gratitude and send it. After having an interview, it is a good idea to write a brief note of thanks to the primary person who conducted the interview. You should begin by expressing gratitude and then highlight anything you believe you may have forgotten to mention during the interview (for example, you could say, "I believe that I may have forgotten to mention that although I dropped out of Harvard without graduating, I do run the world's largest software corporation") as well as anything you specifically want to bring attention to (for example, you could say, "I feel my experience with 3D graphics in my last job would be very relevant to your project"). This is something that almost no one does, yet it's a terrific way to create a powerful and favorable impression on someone else.

Please give us a call if you anticipate arriving late. Please be sure to give the firm plenty of notice if you are unable to attend an interview or if you change your mind about attending. There is nothing more frustrating than having to wait around for someone without having any indication as to whether or not they will really come up.

Ask your own questions. You should arrive with some questions already prepared. Throughout the years, I've been asked a lot of interesting questions, some of which are included below: The training is organized in what way? What criteria will be used to evaluate my work? (this is a better way to phrase the question than asking how frequently I will receive a raise in income) What steps do you take to guarantee that projects are completed on time? How do game designs come about? Who is responsible for the design? How would you characterize a typical team?

Exhibit some level of curiosity. In the same vein as the cover letter, an interview is an excellent chance for you to demonstrate that you have some interest in the organization. Before the interview, you should look at their website and think of a handful of questions that are relevant to the organization. You may not have a lot of time to ask questions at the initial interview, but before you accept a job offer, you should make sure that all of your questions have been addressed to your satisfaction. At this point, you are conducting an interview with them.

Get a side interest. I inquired of one lady, "what do you do when you have some free time?" The response that was given was "I smoke quite a lot." She did not receive the job because it was not a joke and it was not intended to be a joke. You need to give the impression that you have a life, so if you don't already have any hobbies, you should start doing so.

Check out this guy's advice on how to do interviews here: (new information) We have different opinions on a few topics, such as cover letters, but we are in agreement on a lot of other things. The video snippets that he utilizes to explain his ideas are a wonderful addition to the presentation. (Credit where it's due: Seth Godin.)

6. Negotiate your pay

Pick your moment. After receiving an offer for the job is when it is appropriate to begin pay negotiations. This not only puts you in a stronger position since you know they want you, but it also keeps you from tainting the interview process with discussions about compensation.

Learn to recognize your own value. Nevertheless, you should be prepared to provide some indication of your expectations during the interview process if you are asked about it. This could be in the form of a range based on the responsibilities required by the job or a reference to your previous salary. This will allow the company to determine whether or not you are likely to be able to work within their budget.

Complete your assignments. You should give this some serious consideration in advance, and you shouldn't make the mistake that one naive programmer made and ask for an extravagant amount of money, just to reduce it to an embarrassingly low sum in a matter of minutes like he did. That simply looks ridiculous. Any negotiation that you engage in should be founded on some type of legitimate premise; for instance, you may base a request for more money on the seniority of the job, the degree of responsibility, or the level of ability that is necessary. It appears that you have a better understanding of your company than if you were to simply request more money without providing a justification.

Get out while you can with the money. Do not feel compelled to continue negotiating for further compensation if you are already being provided what it is that you want. If you negotiate a wage that is higher than the average, you run the risk of having your offer reduced at the subsequent pay review; it's a game of swings and roundabouts. Companies will typically try to entice you to switch jobs by offering a desirable compensation package that includes a "bid out premium." However, the package should also strike a balance between the company's desire to hire you and the resources it has available to do so. Keep in mind that because they conduct hundreds of interviews and pay reviews annually, they will have a pretty good idea of what a reasonable salary is for a given level of experience and skill. You shouldn't be afraid to ask for a high pay that is also reasonable, and you should be willing to negotiate if necessary. On the other hand, you shouldn't feel obligated to negotiate just out of principle. I think that's what I'm trying to convey.

7. Take advantage of a deal.

Make sure the offer is in writing. Do not cease looking for work or send in your notice until you have received written confirmation of either decision. It need to lay out the fundamental terms and circumstances of your employment, such as your pay, vacation time, benefits, and work title, among other things. In most cases, I would wait to send out an official offer until the position had been accepted verbally either over the phone or in person before sending it out.

Please provide a written confirmation of your acceptance. In addition to verbally confirming your agreement, you should put it in writing. In addition to the contractual aspects of the situation, this creates an obligation on both parties' parts.

Tell people if you change your plans. In the event that you change your mind, you are obligated to inform the organization as quickly as possible. I've had two or three instances of individuals not showing up for their jobs on the first day without offering a single word of explanation. These occurrences are referred to as "no shows." This results in a significant inconvenience and also implies that another individual who would have been a strong candidate for the position is not considered. Also, I am able to recall the names of everyone who does it, and I would never consider giving them another opportunity with the company. You would be astonished at how many individuals reapply for jobs over the course of the years.

8. Deal with the employer you already have.

Maintain your dignity. The majority of people, when they are searching for a new job, have a tendency to keep this search a secret from their current employer and only bring it up after they have found a new position elsewhere. This makes sense in the vast majority of situations. On the other hand, I've had some horrible situations with employees taking a significant number of sick days or just not showing up randomly while they were out for interviews somewhere else. This behavior is unprofessional and will, at the the least, most certainly result in a very bad reference being provided. It would be to your advantage to take the time off as vacation.

Avoid going into "exit mode" at all costs. In a similar vein, once certain individuals have entered "exit mode," they exhibit poor behavior. They may, for instance, be late to work, perform badly, or speak negatively about their coworkers or the organization. Again, this is a very poor reflection of them and can have an effect on their references. Most importantly, it does not reflect well on your professionalism. When you don't have a strong reason to conduct nicely, you should evaluate yourself based on how you carry yourself in such situations.

Don't revenge-quit. If you want to leave your current job because of a problem, such as feeling under-paid, under-trained, or anything else, I believe it is courteous to give your current employer a reasonable chance to make amends before you start looking for a new job. I think this is because your current employer has invested time and effort into the relationship between the two of you. In my experience, once individuals start searching for a job, pride makes it extremely difficult for them to draw back, which is why the moment to speak out is before you start looking for a job. At IG, we conducted exit interviews with employees in their last couple of days of employment. It was disheartening to learn that a few people had departed for reasons that might have been readily resolved if we had been aware of them prior to their departure. Have a conversation with your boss, express your concerns to them, and base your evaluation of the organization on its actions.

Do not try to negotiate by resigning. You should not, on the other hand, play the risky game of salary negotiating by resigning from your job. This is quite reminiscent of blackmail, and in my experience, it is not effective in achieving the desired result.

Quit your job with honor. It is necessary to arrange a personal meeting with your employer as soon as you have officially accepted another employment and inform him or her that you are leaving. This should be done as soon as possible after you have made the decision to leave your current work. You should come prepared to the meeting with a letter of resignation that you may provide them. Putting a message in someone's pigeon hole is fairly sleazy, and you probably wouldn't want to lose your job for doing something like that! They probably have witnessed a large number of people leaving their jobs over the years and won't react negatively to your decision because of this. The little jolt I received was the most unpleasant sensation I've experienced in recent years. This is another another chance to exhibit the kind of professionalism and decency that will be remembered long after you have left the building.