What Makes Smart Job Seekers? 4 Traits Every Job Seeker Needs

By Selipha Kihagi

In an earlier article I mentioned how smart job seekers are usually the ones that get the good jobs, their dream jobs if you may. One of our readers called me to it, concerned by what ‘smart job seekers’ actually meant, and today I am going to explain this in yet another article.

Being a smart job seeker means that you understand how the process of getting a job works, in an out. You are well acquainted with the job search process, the job application stage, how to get through a job interview and how best to impress a potential employer. By being smart, a job seeker can’t be caught off guard making mistakes that could have easily been avoided. You know how to get the job, and you will do everything right to get it.

Are you this kind of job seeker? If you are still trying to figure it out, below are traits that every smart job seeker possesses and you shall too, if you take your career seriously.

Traits That Smart Job Seekers possess And You Should Too

1.They know which job search techniques work best and which don’t
Smart job seekers know that making random applications to jobs they think they are qualified for don’t usually work. For it to work and get called to the interview, your qualifications must match what employers are looking for in the job. They also know that networking is the most effective of techniques when it comes to getting a job.

“Networking is a key process in job seeking, job keeping, and position advancement. It is necessary that job seekers give greater attention to this process as competition for good jobs grows,” reads an excerpt from the book, ‘Smart Job Seeker’, authored by Perminus Wainaina, the Managing Director and Head of Recruitment at Corporate Staffing Services,

He also adds that for job seekers to become smart, they must learn the art of cold calling, where you sell your skills to employers without there being even a job opening. Then they can proceed to talk to recruiters directly, attend career fairs and do online searches.

2.They understand the selection process just as a recruiter does
Smart job seekers are different from other job seekers in that they are well acquainted with the hiring process. They know what employers are looking for in the CV when selecting suitable candidates for the interviews and know very well how to edit their CVs so they make it to the Yes lot.

These job seekers also understand that for your CV to be included in the Yes or Maybe pile, it should be among the first ones that the recruiter sees and it should be catchy. Applying to jobs early with an impressive CV increases a candidate’s chance of being invited for the interview. So, are you the kind that applies early or the kind that applies close to the deadline?

3.Smart job seekers know how to impress recruiters in the interview stage
Have you been to an interview and wondered why you did not get the job but someone else did? Did you wonder what they saw in her or him that you didn’t have? Well this happens more times than you think and the minute you understand what that determinant is, the quicker you’ll start getting the jobs.

To be smart about the interview, you must be familiar with what answers work for each question, what makes employers and recruiters decide on a candidate and most importantly, what makes an interviewer not forget you. For more on how to pass a job interview, read this article here.

4.Smart job seekers know how to build relationships for a job in the future
Frustrations in the job search process can lead candidates to give up or become desperate for any job. This happens a lot, and while this can be disheartening, employers are repelled when job seekers appear desperate. You can read more about that here. If someone promises you a job today and they don’t deliver, don’t hold it against them. Instead, ask them to let you know when they hear of something.

The same applies when you attend an interview but don’t get the job. If you did your best and walked out believing you had the job but didn’t get it, make sure you call back and ask the interviewer or recruiter if they can recommend you for another position or consider you for a future job. Some people have had this work in their favour, so try it out and see how it goes. This is especially if you are trying to get a job through a recruitment firm as they are likely to have a similar position come up sooner that you expect.

Smart job seekers know what jobs they want, they know who to talk to so they can get it and are well acquainted with the avenues that work best. They also know that networking and building long lasting relationships will always work, even if it is not immediately.

If you are still trying to figure out your job search process, you might want to consider reading the ‘Smart Job Seeker’ Book. Get in touch for a copy.