When you’re searching for a new job, it’s not uncommon to go through a dry spell. There’s lots of factors that can influence a dry spell, and some of these factors are simply outside of your control. This includes market conditions, an influx of high-quality applicants or just plain bad luck. Other factors, such as your CV, choice of referees and even your list of interests can influence your likelihood of securing an interview. Improve your chances of landing a job by identifying what needs tweaking.
CV
Sell yourself. The CV is where the job opportunity begins, so give it the attention it deserves.
- Avoid unnecessary pronouns (she, we, I)
- Quantifying your achievements with specific details
- List work history in reverse chronological order (most recent at the top)
- Only include one phone number (and have a working voicemail)
- Include your LinkedIn profile URL (if relevant)
Read more CV writing tips here.
Referees
Ensure your referees are relevant automotive professionals. For vehicle sales, whilst a valuer/wholesaler might work with you on a regular basis, they often don’t have firsthand experience of your dealings with co-workers. This can make conducting a reference check difficult, and won’t serve you as well as a reference check form a current or former co-worker. Keep your referees up to speed when applying for new roles, and choose people who you know will sing your praises.
Interests
Usually, the risk of having your CV ruled out for being “too quirky” outweighs the benefits of differentiating yourself through your list of interests. This Business Insider Australia article details what you should and shouldn’t list as your interests. Interests that ranked highly include triathlons, golf, community involvement (coaching, scouts, volunteer work).
Keep in mind that if your particular position has a relatively high turnover rate within the industry, continued perseverance can result in the odds eventually falling in your favour.
