Competition is Fierce

Came across an article entitled: Hundreds line up for possibility of a job

I hope you weren't one of those people. If you were, I hope you knew how important it was to stand out from the rest of the crowd. Ideally, you'll never be in a cattle call with hundreds of people to interview and fill out applications. That's just the worst way to try to get a job. I hope that you will know the techniques I teach in the "Five Finger Guide" and know there ways to connect with a company in a more effectively.

If you have done your research and know that showing up and standing in line is truly your only available option (this can be true in fields such as manufacturing), please make the most of the opportunity. Here are a few quick tips:

• Leaning up against a wall and trying to remember the dates where you worked in 2004 isn't an ideal scenario. Prepare for filling out the application by having all of the details you'll need about your past experiences written down in advance.

• Dress appropriately and be well-groomed. Nobody really expects you to show up at an interview for a loading job dressed in a suit and tie. But try to dress a couple of notches better than you would on a regular workday. If you are a forklift operator, be the one they want to put on their marketing materials -- one who looks shiny and happy to be working.

• Have a great attitude. This can be really hard if you have been looking for a long time or you are stressed out for any other reason. Try to leave that outside. Every opportunity to meet people who are hiring is just that -- an opportunity. Be upbeat. Listen, there is no guarantee that if you have a positive attitude, you will get the job. But I can guarantee that if you go in there seeming defeated or negative in any way, you won't get it. 

• Get talking before you go to the event, even if you are all alone. Practice talking about yourself in a constructive and clear way. If you have practice, you won't stammer and pause and miss an opportunity to say great things about yourself when asked in a quick interview where time is of the essence. Prepare a little summary about yourself. Also, know something about the company so you can tell them why you want to work there.

• Chequered past? Be honest. Look them in the eye and tell them if you were let go from a job and why. Explain what went wrong as quickly as possible and how you've moved on. Personality conflict with an old boss? Explain that you usually get on well with people. Mention your references who will be happy to tell them about how great you are. Don't dwell on the negative.

These are tough times. I wish you the best of luck with your job search. Please share your stories with us here on the Five Finger Guide website. Happy to give advice or comments to anyone who reaches out here.