Here are some helpful hints when job hunting...

•  Read the job advertisement carefully and make sure you match the criteria
• Apply wherever possible before the job cut off date, if you are late, still send an application you just never know!
• Carefully address your letters and emails, before you hit the send button re-read your letter to make sure it is professional and addressed to the right person. You would be surprised how many applicants send standard letters and forget to change the name of the person and company they are applying to!
• Make sure your resume is up to date and correct. Check your dates especially and account for any places in your resume where you were not working with an honest explanation. eg. Overseas travel, job searching, maternity leave, taking a break
• Wherever possible give reasons for leaving particularly if the company you worked for relocated, the company downsized or you were made redundant due to a management restructure
  

Preparation!

Congratulations you have a job interview…

The job interview is potentially the single most important factor in gaining the job you are after. The impression that you make on a potential employer at this stage may very well determine your entire future.

• Research the company… google and research the brand and products, visit the company website, make a visit to retail stores and have a look at the product, marketing, pricing and more.
• Prepare some meaningful questions…. what are the company’s future plans? Is there a detailed job specification available? What key factors in experience and personality does the employer see as the key to success for this role?
• Dress to impress… don’t be too casual! Even if the job environment is casual you need to make an excellent first impression. Dress fashionably but professionally, from your apparel to your shoes, hair and piercing/s, make sure you do not scare off a future employer because you look scary!
• Fragrance… avoid the knockout of aftershave or fragrance, go lightly and if you are a smoker, freshen your breath before your interview.

Make a great first impression...

• Be early
• Never ‘no show’ without calling…. The Fashion and Media industries are a tight knit community.
• Concentrate and maintain eye contact
• Turn your mobile phone off or onto silent… and if you forget… don’t answer it unless it is in emergency circumstances.

It is never a good idea to...

• Make negative remarks about a previous employer
• Give away trade secrets or confidential privileged information
• Take manuals, documents, range books or other material from a previous company to an interview

Never close the door on an opportunity. You never know you may be offered an even better position than the one you applied for!

Make a difference...

If you really enjoyed the interview, feel capable of the job requirements and you are keen on the opportunity ask for it! eg.

• Thank you for your time, I am really enthusiastic about this opportunity and I am certain I can exceed your expectations if you appointed me to your company.
• I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting with you, this opportunity is very exciting and I am interested to talk further.

Another great idea is a thank you letter to express your enthusiasm and to thank the potential employer for meeting and considering you.

Disclaimer
This information has been intended as a guide only. Your own personal presentation, experience and qualifications will ultimately be the key at interviews and ultimately in your new job. This has been developed as a guide and does not assure you of being successful at an interview.

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