After spending the last three years writing articles about how to develop a wining CV, how to excel in an interview, the job search process, how to brand and sell yourself to potential employers I thought I had exhausted the topic. I have also held numerous workshops, personal coaching on the same area and yet I find that there is an insatiable appetite for more information about the job search process. Many job-seekers wish they could unlock the secret to winning the hearts and minds of employers. They often wonder what the unique combination of skills and values that make employers make a decision to employ them.

It is beginning of the year and many movements are happening in the job market. People have switched jobs in the past year and so we find ourselves with clients requesting us to assist them find replacement employees. We advertise vacancies either in the print media, on our website; we also send vacancy alerts every week as well as headhunt depending on the position. We receive a huge response for every vacancy we advertise, what worries many applicants is that while they feel they meet with the requirements of the job adverts, they are never shortlisted or invited for interviews and worst of all they never even get feedback on whether their application was received or not. In today’s article I would like to briefly highlight what employers look for in job seekers; this will give some insight into why you may have been finding challenges in your employment search and why no employer is taking you seriously.

Every organization is unique in its own way and therefore every employer is looking for a specific set of skills from job seekers that match the skills necessary to perform a particular job. But beyond these job specific technical skills depending on the type of position one find that there are generic skills that every employer will want to see in a potential employee. The wonderful news is that every single job seeker has the opportunity to have these skills and those who face challenges or have weaknesses can do something about it. These skills can be acquired through training, professional development or obtaining coaching, mentoring from someone who understands these skills.

The first contact any job seeker will make with an employer is through an application letter which must have curriculum vitae (CV) enclosed and depending on the employers request certificates may be attached. At this point the job seeker has not made any physical contact with the potential employer, what this means is that the CV becomes your marketing and branding tool therefore it must be designed to attract the employer. No matter how many degrees and PHD’s you have if your CV is not attractive you will not grab the attention of potential employers.

Education, experience and qualifications are key to any job search process, I must however hasten to mention that there are cases where an employer will select a candidate who may not have the best experience or qualifications amongst those being interviewed but are selected because of their attitude, appearance, image and personality. It is important for job seekers to understand that even when you seek for employment through a recruitment company, that company does not make the final decision on behalf of a client, they must follow specifications laid down by the client in terms of the job specifications.

Communication skills are critical to any employer; these would include written, verbal and even listening skills. I have witnessed interviews were a candidate is highly qualified and experienced and yet when they open their mouth to speak nothing of interest comes out that the panel wonders whether the candidate is the owner of the credentials presented to them. These skills can be learnt through coaching, I was never the best speaker growing up, in fact I shivered just standing up in my class to read a small passage out of a textbook and yet with coaching today I can stand in front of ten thousand people and speak confidently, I can go on live television knowing that a whole country is watching and still speak confidently. Employers want a candidate who can speak and present themselves well.

Grooming, image and deportment are key to being noticed by a potential employer. You have just one chance to make a good first impression and therefore sixty seconds into walking into the interview room, the panel starts to make decisions. Your hair, nails, face, make-up, clothes, bag, accessories, perfume or scent must be right. I can assure you that there is not a single employer who is not concerned about the image of its employees, this is for the simple reason that once you join the organization you will become an ambassador, their representative and therefore they expect that you will be packaged in the right way. If you have no idea how to fix this part of your life again you can seek professional assistance so that you may present yourself as a complete brand from your CV, your communication and presentation skills, your appearance, qualifications and experience.

During the interview itself, the employer is also looking for a multitude of skills; these will include your ability to posses analytical skills, especially in senior positions. This skill simply looks at your ability to assess a situation, gather information, identify key issues and be able to provide information that is up to date and well researched. In today’s highly developed world computer literacy is no longer and added advantage but it is a must have. A bulk of the jobs requires that a person is computer literate, in fact many vacancies are being advertised through the internet and responses are expected to be sent via email. Never lie that you are computer literate if you are not for today’s interviews will usually involve a practical test which means that if you lie you will not even know how to switch on the computer.

Employers are seeking job seekers who are flexible and adaptable, they will not take interest in a job seeker who has a long list of their own to do list and who are typical 08:00 to 17:00 workers. Employers expect that when there is pressure of work and deadlines to be met they should not have to beg you to work overtime, there in any interview situation learn to sell yourself on flexibility, it is very important.

Next week I will continue this article and provide you with more tips on what employers are looking for in job seekers. This month of January I will be holding a series of coaching sessions at a highly discounted cost on the job search process, interview coaching and Image consulting and management. Please contact me for further details. Remember that it is better to be ready for an opportunity and not have one that to have an opportunity and not be ready. Each month I will also hold a FREE talk at our training center on what Image consulting is and how it can benefit you so that should you require to book for a session you will have a better idea of what is involved.