The Recruitment Process

JOB SEARCH INSIGHTS

It can be overwhelming once you finally make that decision to start looking for your next career opportunity. Here, we discuss a few key strategies to navigate the process of finding your dream role and increasing your chance for success.

Did you know that a large portion of the job market is not “visible”? That means the roles are not actually advertised in the public domain. So that brings us to the predicament of how can you apply for jobs you don’t even know about, nor can you find? The first thing you can do is ensure you have a professional online presence. Use platforms such as LinkedIn, Indeed, Seek and other job boards to create a profile and online CV. Your online presence can be a valuable source, not only from a networking perspective, but the right platforms can boost your chance of connecting with key industry people and they can approach you directly about job opportunities.

Inappropriate use of social media: A growing number of employers are now extending their vetting process to include social media, particularly when they feel a candidate might not be what they are portraying themselves to be in an interview. Change your privacy settings and be sensible in the content you post online. Failure to be aware of your digital footprint is a huge mistake in today’s market.

We understand the importance of social media in your job search and can advise you on your personal brand and online profile so that you can make a good impression on a prospective employer.

WORKING WITH A RECRUITER

How does it feel when you have someone championing your capabilities? It’s pretty awesome, right? Well, by partnering with a recruiting expert at The Aicila Group you will have an advocate who will promote your strengths and expertise to potential employers.

We take the time to understand your needs and value working in strategic partnership with individuals and our corporate partners. The Aicila Group is unique because we care. We want to make sure you find the right job, the one that fits with your career plans and ticks as many boxes for you as possible. We are invested in your success, and work with our candidate’s time again throughout their careers.

Living by our values, coupled with our focus on working in partnership with key stakeholders, ensures positive results are achieved for individuals, our clients, our industry and our team.

When you connect with one of our expert recruitment consultants, you are speaking with someone that has years of experience in the Animal Health / Nutrition and Animal Production industries. We get it. We will understand the special terminology of the industry, how your particular job works and where your skills are most suited to the potential job.

Right throughout the process, your recruitment consultant works with you. From getting your CV on point, interview skills and preparation, briefing you on our corporate partners culture and ethics to ensure it’s a place where you want to work long term, feedback and improvement for future interviews, career planning and networking.

If you’re not sure about leaving your current job we are more than happy to discuss the trends, and types of roles available. We can have a general discussion during which we can assist you in determining whether you are better off moving or staying where you are and ideas for future proofing your career. 

Above all we are passionate about people and our integrity compels us to match the right person to the right job. We believe this is fundamental to improving lives and allows people to be all they can be. We look forward to working with you to help you achieve your full potential.

STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD

Many jobseekers are failing to stand out and do themselves justice in today’s job market. You need to be able to take the experience and results you have, and be able to demonstrate that there is relevance to the selection criteria in the job you want to apply for. This means, regardless of your career path, you need to be able to “sell” yourself. Demonstrate your skill progress and development over time, and highlight the key achievements and experience that you already have. Use your skills and experience to show potential employers you are a tried and tested candidate that can add immediate value to their business.

If you are a graduate, professional work experience completed during your study is a huge benefit that will help you stand out from the crowd. Even a few weeks completed during semester break gives you an advantage over fellow graduates who have not taken the initiative to gain relevant experience.

Five tips to stand out:

1. Write an impressive CV, its critical you make a good first impression. Ensure its you reflected on paper. Think about the visual appeal, the fonts, the colours and the lay out all has your personal flair shining through. Proof-read your resume and take the time to get it right, edit, then edit again. Have someone you trust look over it for you.

2. Key Achievements:Highlight one or two unique selling points to differentiate yourself in your resume. For example, were you one of the highest achievers in your university degree? Have you won any employee awards? Were you part of any special projects at an organisation that were transformational? Have relevant examples and statistics at your fingertips.

3. Relevancy: The most valuable skill a jobseeker can have is relevant experience. For seasoned professionals, this means matching your existing skills and experience with the selection criteria in the job description. For graduates, this means gaining relevant industry experience through volunteer work or a study placement.

4. Networking:Contact a recruiter, search job websites, use social media sites such as LinkedIn and talk to your networks, industry bodies and university alumni.

5. Stay Current:Stay on top of industry trends to demonstrate to an employer that as their industry and business moves forward, you are moving forward with it. Develop new skills and take continuing education. Never stop learning when it comes to your career.

We hope that has given you some valuable insights. To speak with one of our Aicila consultants click here. To start working on that impressive resume, head on over to our next section here.

You can’t undo a first impression. CV writing expectations have advanced a lot in recent times. Keep at the front of your mind that this is a document that a potential employer uses to make their first judgement about you - so you'll want to ensure these judgements are positive. Don’t be daunted by the task, we are here to help and give you critical and valuable tips to ensure that first impression hits the right mark.

Tips for great CV writing

Firstly, your CV can be a fluid document. Don’t be limited by the thought that you can only have one CV. You can make minor tweaks as needed for each role you apply for. This will ensure it is relevant, addresses the selection criteria and it is easy to identify why you are a suitable candidate for the job.

What is your personality like? Ensure that your CV is you reflected on paper. Give time and serious thought to the design elements. Think about the visual appeal. Is it eye- catching? Because that’s a sure-fire way to stand out. Consider the fonts (make sure it is easy to read), the colours and the layout. Make sure it all has your personal flair shining through. There are so many free resources on the internet to get guidance on CV templates. There is no need to stick with a basic Word document in Times New Roman any longer.

Obviously, you need to include basic contact information such as your full name, suburb, state and country, telephone numbers, email address (make sure the e-mail address you use appears professional - cranky@hotmail.com is not very appropriate past high school) and LinkedIn profile URL if you have one. And that’s it. No need for date of birth, street address or marital status information.

Professional summary - Ensure the first area at the top of your resume is a "summary of experience" and includes specific applicable experience as opposed to generalities. Consider using words from the job description, so that there is a key word match and you can be recognised as a suitable candidate. This area of your CV should be designed to prove your value proposition and differentiate you from your competition.

Career objective - In this section reference your career objective back to the job applied for to give an indication of what you are looking for in your next career move, with an overview of your key achievements.

Work experience - This should be listed in reverse chronological order, beginning with the most recent job. Ensure the layout is clear and well ordered.

Start with your Job Title.

Then the dates you commenced and ended (including month and year for both). By only stating the years, rather than the months you started or finished a role you can do yourself a disservice here. See 2016-2017 can mean January 2016 to December 2017 (almost 2 years in the role) alternatively December 2016 to January 2017 (only 8 weeks in the job). See the difference?

Include employer names and location. A brief sentence or two on the organisation can be helpful too.

Then highlight at least one or two key achievements in that role. Quantify your accomplishments where possible. This could also be something your extremely proud of.

Then write a paragraph about your primary responsibilities. Use language similar to what is already used in the job description and selection criteria. But be human. At the end of the day, remember a recruiter or hiring manager is a human being and when they read your CV it needs to appeal to their humanity as well.

We advise you not to leave gaps in your CV. If you took a year out, carried out an interim assignment, or travelled for six months, say so.

Education and qualifications – Keep it concise by listing the qualification obtained, year it was completed and the institution you studied through.

Interests – it’s good to know that an individual is well rounded and has a healthy work life balance. Keep it brief, but if you are active and current in any sports or hobbies, add a handful here to demonstrate your versatility.

References – simply put “Available on request”. References do not come into the process until the end stages, after interview rounds. Most organisations will have specific requirements on who they need as your referees in any case.

Document format - We suggest using a clean format with no graphics, photos, images or tables. Maximise the space on the page. Use narrow margins and avoid using header and footers. Save it and send it out as a PDF file only. This will ensure your document appears as you intend it, and will be compatible with a wide variety of software.

Final checks - Proof-read your resume and take the time to get it right, edit, then edit again. Use spell check and make sure it is well written with no grammatical errors. Remember, it is the first impression your potential employer will have of you, so take the time to get it right. If possible, ask someone you trust to proof read your resume.

Follow up – Once you have submitted your CV, pick up the phone after a few days. The best way to make sure your CV is seen is by following up with a phone call. Not enough people do this. You will stand out.

Don’t be a cliché - phrases to avoid on your CV

There are a lot of over-used phrases and clichés that waste valuable space on a CV. Here are some of our suggestions on what you can replace the following overused phrases with to demonstrate your strengths instead. Remember that proof is in your results, and that is what employers are looking for.

1. ‘I can work independently’: Autonomy is almost a given in today’s workplace.  It’s very common to see ‘I work well both independently and in groups’ on a resume. Let’s see more detail on how you execute that fact. For example, write ‘I independently conceptualised and rolled out a new strategy that increased sales by 17% in the first 6 months post launch’.

2. ‘I am a hard worker’: So what. So are the other 200 applicants applying for this job. Show us the proof that you go above and beyond. What is the extent of the extra mile. Instead of stating it, give an example the demonstrates it.

3. ‘I work well under pressure’:Pressure is relative. Your idea of pressure and that of the hiring manager are probably going to be different. Instead, state ways that you manage your time to meet multiple deadlines, how you juggle your responsibilities and ways that you stay organised.

4. ‘I am a good communicator’:This is an easy one to test early in the recruiting process for HR managers and hiring managers. So instead, why not make note of a presentation you gave that won a client or meetings you chaired that you kept on schedule.

5. Enthusiastic: ardent, avid, devoted, eager, earnest, ebullient, excited, fervent, fervid, keen, lively, spirited, vigorous, wholehearted, zealous are more unique words to use. But better yet, describe a scenario that you threw yourself into and your successful outcome.

6. Team Player:Instead show how you worked in a team to meet a specific goal. For example, ‘Worked with our international and local marketing teams to implement a global rebrand across 12 countries.’

7. Excellent written communication skills:Your CV is going to be testament this fact. So, there will be no need to state it blatantly like this, just ensure your CV is on point.

Having a positive personal brand has always been a good idea.

In years gone by this has been your personal reputation - what you are known for - in your chosen field or industry. Harnessing this will help you demonstrate what you have to offer an employer long before you meet a recruitment consultant or potential new boss in person.

Nowadays, the fact is your profile is very visible across many channels. So, consistency has become crucial for anyone serious about their career. These days, impressing a prospective employer is much more than just what is on your resume. Your personal brand now spans your presence on social media, your relationships with past employers, your work network and personal networks, including how you work with recruiters. As such, it has become imperative that you take control and actively create and manage your personal brand online as well as offline.

Here are five tips to help get you started on developing your winning personal brand:
 

1. Conduct a "brand review": Ask for feedback from a manager or mentor. Be prepared to hear the truth. List the words and phrases that get used to describe you. Put some thought into what is working for you and what is holding you back. Action items could include identifying habits you want to break or building new skills.

2. Social media: Your personal brand is only a click away from being viewed by recruiters, employers and potential managers. The good news is social media offers a quick and easy way to build, maintain and control your personal brand. Ensure you align your online profile and activities with the personal brand you want to project. We recommend creating and maintaining a LinkedIn profile.

3. Stay in touch with former employers: It is common practice for future employers to ask for at least one of your referees to be a direct manager. It’s vital you stay in touch with former managers throughout your career. Not only for this purpose, but they are often a trusted mentor and can help shape your career.

4. Make the best use of recruitment consultants: Building a relationship with a recruiter at The Aicila Group will become invaluable. Even if the initial role is not right for you, recruitment consultants that know your personal brand values will remember you when other relevant roles come along. Recruiters are also a great source of information about employment and salary trends.

5. Make time for networking: There is no point in putting time and effort into cultivating a personal brand if you never put it to work. At least once a month make time for a coffee chat with someone who can help your career. Stay in touch with the recruitment consultants at The Aicila Group. Consider joining an industry association or professional group and attend functions or seminars when you can. Even when you are in a job, it pays to keep valuable contacts.

Interviewing successfully is a skill that needs to be learned and cultivated just like any other. At The Aicila Group our recruitment consultants work with you extensively throughout the whole process to prepare you for each interview stage. The better prepared you are, the more relaxed and comfortable you will be and your performance in the setting will be impressive.

Essentially, the interview process allows you to demonstrate that you are the right candidate for the job. However, HR Managers and hiring managers are also going to be looking for team and organisational cultural fit from your responses.

The following section offers a few interview tips and suggestions on ways to refine your interview technique.

Do your research 

Before the interview, it is a good idea to gather information about the organisation that has the position vacant and try to relate your experience to the specific duties of the job opportunity available. You can search for the organisation online for more information, and view their website and corporate social media pages for more detailed news and insight into its culture.

Plan ahead

Well before the interview you should:

• Handle logistics early. Have your clothes, resume, and directions to the interview site ready ahead of time, to avoid any extra stress.
• Make sure you’ll look the part. Look, act and dress professionally and appropriately.
• Practice interviewing. Practice making eye contact. Pay attention to positive body language and verbal presentation. Try to eliminate verbal fillers, like “uh,” and “um” from your vernacular.

Understand behavioural interviewing

To get to the motivations and working style of a potential employee, interviewers often turn to behavioural interviewing. This is an interviewing style that aims to establish your core competencies relevant to the role, such as teamwork, creativity and innovation, decision making ability, business awareness or conflict resolution. The interviewer will be looking for examples of past behaviour that demonstrate these competencies. We encourage our candidates to spend some time researching this interview method.

Interview questions

We get feedback occasionally from our clients, that candidates are not progressing as they failed to actually answer the interview question. If you are not certain about a particular question, do not be afraid to seek clarification. This is a perfect opportunity to showcase your communication skills. Listen, try not to interrupt the questions. Always treat the interview as a two-way discussion and answer questions honestly, directly and keep to the point. Your Aicila recruitment consultant will give you some formats to help with answering questions prior to your interview. Everyone present will be focusing their attention on you, so remember to answer the question clearly.

To answer questions, the following tips might help:

• Make a list of key attributes required. Are you the sort of person they describe in the job description?
• Memorise examples from your recent roles that demonstrate your strength in each of these key attributes.

• The STAR technique (Situation – Task – Action – Result) can help you do this:

  Situation– set the scene, give some background information.

  Task - Tell them what you decided to do.

  Action - Describe what you actually did. 

  Result - Tell them what happened as a result of your actions.

‘Do you have any questions for us?’

Towards the end of the interview, you will usually be asked if you have any questions of your own. Be confident when asking your questions as it will reflect positively on your overall performance.

Examples include:

• Why is the position available?
• What training and induction will be given?
• What prospects are there for personal and professional development?
• What are the company plans for the future?
• What skills and attributes do successful people at your company usually have?
• What do you like best about working at the company?

End of the interview

At the end of your interview, show gratitude and be thankful for the opportunity. This process isn’t just about what an employer can do for you (by giving you a job), its mutually beneficial. What are you bringing to the organisation? You need to ensure that the impression you leave is of someone who can bring incredible value to the business and will be a strong asset.

Psychometric assessment

Psychometric assessment has become a key component of many recruitment processes especially in larger organisations. Many assessments explore aspects of workplace behaviour, preference and motivation, as opposed to just mental ability. The principle of assessments is to gain insight into individuals’ personalities, skills and competencies.

There are a range of tools available that organisations use to explore numeracy, strategic thinking and the ability to deal with complex verbal challenges, as well as off-the-shelf and bespoke questionnaires. The data is used to build a picture of your overall strengths and aptitude, motivations, aspirations, preferred way of working and cultural fit.

Tips on taking psychometric assessments:

• Approach the assessment as an opportunity to further demonstrate your strengths.
  • Be aware that most assessments involve multiple-choice questions with right and wrong responses. This means they are an objective assessment of you and all other candidates.
  • Take a free sample test online to practice.
  • When it comes time to take the test, read the instructions carefully.
  • They tend to be long, so be well rested, pick a time of day when you are at your best in terms of mental clarity. Be in an environment where you can concentrate fully.